About

Simply Stacie brings the warmth of home cooking to life with easy-to-enjoy family recipes. Let’s make memories—one dish at a time.

Welcome! I’m Stacie Vaughan, a seasoned home cook and mother of two daughters, aged 26 and 19, living in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada.

With over 30 years of cooking experience, I’ve been sharing my love for home cooking online since 2008 when I founded Simply Stacie. As a full-time blogger, I take pride in creating and sharing easy, delicious recipes that anyone can cook. My focus has always been on simple, home-cooked meals – the kind of food that brings comfort and joy to the table.

Throughout my blogging career, I’ve been featured in several prestigious print magazines, including the September 2021 issue of Costco Connection and multiple issues of Willow & Sage since 2016. My recipes have also gained recognition in notable online publications such as Country Living, Reader’s Digest, and People.

I’m honored that Simply Stacie is ranked #3 on the list of Top 90 Canadian Food Blogs and Websites. In 2023, I expanded my online presence by co-founding Busy Day Dinners, a blog dedicated to sharing quick, easy, and delicious dinner recipes for busy families. I’ve also been featured on Google for Publishers, where I share my story!

I’m also the author of The Busy Day Dinners Cookbook, published in late 2024!

My passion is to help others by sharing my tried-and-true family recipes – from my kitchen to yours.

Food blogger Stacie Vaughan holding a coffee cup on a kitchen counter.

My Blogging Journey

Before diving into blogging, I worked full-time as an accountant in public practice. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy it at all – it paid the bills and that’s about it. In 2007, I decided to quit my job and stay home with my kids. I suffer from chronic pain, and the constant sitting at work was too much for me. We downsized our home, and I stayed home with my two young daughters.

I stumbled into the blogging world after being at home and entering some blog giveaways, which were quite popular back then. It looked like a fun thing to do, so I thought I’d give it a try. When I started my blog, I mainly focused on product reviews and giveaways. It was enjoyable but not my true passion.

Simply Stacie logo.

Everything changed when my parents bought me a Canon Rebel DSLR for Christmas in 2011. That’s when I discovered my true calling – food photography. My photos were pretty terrible at first, but I was determined to improve my skills and practice as much as I could.

I’ve always loved cooking and baking. As a child, I used to read my mom’s cookbooks for fun and bookmark recipes I wanted to make for my family. Food photography wasn’t easy, but it was incredibly rewarding. I took as many courses as I could and watched countless videos to figure it out on my own. Looking back, some of my early photos make me cringe, but we all have to start somewhere!

Even now, I’m constantly taking courses and learning new things. I firmly believe in being a lifelong learner – the journey never stops.

Food blogger Stacie Vaughan sitting at a table with a laptop.

My Food Philosophy

Do you ever find yourself in a dinner rut, making the same recipes over and over again? I’ve been there, too. For a long time, I relied on a handful of tried-and-true recipes, but eventually, I got tired of making them all the time. I’m sure my family did, too!

I craved variety but needed recipes that my family would actually eat and that I could easily prepare. Nothing too fancy here!

I soon realized that I wasn’t alone. Many people love classic recipes but are always on the lookout for new dishes to try.

Experimenting in the kitchen has become a joy, especially with different ingredients and appliances. I’m particularly obsessed with my air fryer!

I also have a soft spot for old-fashioned recipes that remind me of my grandma’s cooking. Who doesn’t love grandma’s cooking?

Meal times can be fun and exciting without being too complicated.

Food blogger Stacie Vaughan stirring a copper pot on a wooden counter.

My Mission

My mission with Simply Stacie is to provide a go-to source for easy and delicious recipes that anyone can make. As my tagline says, “Let’s make memories – one dish at a time.”

With over 30 years of cooking experience, I understand the importance of recipes that save time and don’t break the bank. If you’re looking for practical, tasty meals, you’ve come to the right place.

You’ll find recipes for every occasion, from weeknight meals and family dinners to holiday feasts, BBQs, potlucks, and parties. Each recipe is designed to be simple and easy to follow, with a printable recipe card at the bottom of every post for your convenience.

In each post, I expand on the recipe by offering tips and tricks, serving suggestions, related recipes, and more. My goal is to make your cooking experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

Join me in making memories, one dish at a time.

Food blogger Stacie Vaughan chopping a red pepper on a counter.

Check out a few of the popular recipes on my blog.

I invite you to join my email newsletter (it’s free) by filling out the form below. Happy cooking!