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Home » About Valentina

About Valentina

 

I’m Valentina, certified chef, busy mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I am the owner, author, recipe developer and photographer here at Cooking On The Weekends. I use seasonal, whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

I grew up in a world of antiques, vegetable gardens, photography, painting, love, and really, really delicious and interesting food. Cooking On The Weekends combines all of those things — and allows me to share them.

Valentina in her antique filled kitchenphoto credit: Gail Albert Halaban

What brought me here?

  • After getting my bachelors degree in Art History, I worked at the LA County Museum of Art for a couple of years. Though it was fabulous to be amidst some of the finest art in the world, at the end of the day, my job was more paperwork than anything else.
  • Always having loved being in the kitchen, cooking and baking, I left the museum and spent the following couple of years in Culinary school at the Los Angeles Culinary School, and interning in restaurants.
  • While still in Culinary school, a friend asked me to cater his wedding. It was wildly successful and I loved every minute of it. That led me into several years of catering, private chef work, and teaching cooking classes both privately and at Sur La Table.

Cut to meeting the handsome guy at the bottom of this page . . .

  • A few years later I was a mom to two boys and I wanted to be with them as much as possible, so I began recipe developing and writing about food at home.
  • In 2011, Cooking On The Weekends was born.

Some Things to Know about Valentina and Food

  • My recipe ideas come from anywhere and everywhere: my fruit bowl, food images in magazines, walking down an aisle in the market, talking with people, colors, the weather, my mood, my kids, a book, a TV show, the seasons, and the list goes on.
  • I have too many favorite foods to list.
  • Foods are rarely too rich for me. I don’t really get it when someone says they can only have one bite because a dessert is too rich (particularly chocolate).
  • I believe most foods are okay in moderation. (Yes, that includes sugar.)
  • I eat just about everything — with the exception of sea urchin, okra, and anything presented with eyeballs.
  • I always try to cook with local, fresh, healthy ingredients.
  • I adore using flavors from other countries and learning about how people eat in other cultures.
  • One of my sons has Celiac Disease and therefore is gluten-free (forever). So while this is not a gluten-free site, I offer dozens of gluten-free recipes. (Gluten-free desserts are here, and gluten-free savory recipes are here.)
  • I have an aversion to “fake” foods — Tofurky, for example. I would rather skip an ingredient than use a “fake” substitute. (P.S. I do love tofu — just not when it’s pretending to be something else.)
  • I’m in love with comfort foods and you’ll find dozens upon dozens of recipes for them here.
  • And I tend to use a lot of exclamation points. I can’t help myself. I am just so excited about what I’m cooking!

Valentina and her husband

I want to inspire you to cook!

I will always be happy to receive your comments, questions and thoughts. Contact me here.

Copyright Information

I’m so happy that you love Cooking On The Weekends. You’re welcome to link to recipes and posts on this blog — however, please note that all the content and photography is wholly owned by me. One cannot reprint any writing, recipes or photographs found on this site without express written consent. Thank you!

 

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I’m Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two amazing teen boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining. Read more about my love of food and cooking.

FAVORITE SOUPS & STEWS!  





SPRING & SUMMER FAVORITES

Top view of open jar of Lemon Basil Vinaigrette with fresh basil leaves.

Lemon Basil Vinaigrette (and Marinade)

Hatch Chile Salsa with Fresh peaches in a terra cotta bowl on an orange stirped cloth with fresh raw Hatch chiles.

Hatch Chile Salsa with Fresh Peaches

Cream-colored ceramic bowl filled to the top with Peach Caprese Salad with drops of balsamic glaze and fresh sun flowers behind it.

Peach Caprese Salad

Composed Peach Avocado with Zucchini on a white plate with a yellow daisy behind it.

Peach Avocado Salad with Zucchini

DESSERT!

Clear drinking glass with several creamy coffee ice cubes in it.

Creamy and Sweet Coffee Ice Cubes

Cream-colored ceramic mug with coffee beans and a coffee popsicle sticking out of the top.

Creamy Coffee Popsicles

Four scoops of corn ice cream in a purple bowl, surrounded by corn husks.

Sweet Corn Ice Cream

Large slice of chocolate zucchini bundt cake on a golden-colored, ceramic plate.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake

 

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