Hey there!
Welcome to Hilda's Kitchen Blog...
I'm Hilda Sterner, a cookbook author, food blogger (here and at Montana Homestead Harvest), and recipe contributor to Brian Baumgartner's Seriously Good Chili Cookbook and Seriously Good Barbecue Cookbook. I am also a proud U.S. Navy veteran. ⚓︎ 🇺🇸
My recipes have also been featured on Parade, MSN, Taste of Home, and Flipboard.
My goal is to help you create delicious meals with confidence while exploring a world of flavors.
Mom's Authentic Assyrian Recipes
I published this cookbook to teach the younger Assyrian generation how to cook our traditional food. But I also wanted to share our history, culture, and delicious food with everyone else.
My Journey
Born in Iraq and raised in Chicago, I moved to San Diego when the Navy stationed me there in 1985. I later served in the Sheriff's Department, and San Diego became home, where my husband and I raised our family. We purchased our Montana property in 2017 and moved here full-time in 2020. Now we're living the dream!
My love of cooking really took off in San Diego in the early 2000s, when I started watching Emeril Lagasse on Food Network with my mom. He made cooking look so fun that I couldn't wait to try his recipes. Before long, I was spending more time in the kitchen with my mom, learning to make the Assyrian dishes I grew up eating, including my all-time favorite, grape leaf dolma.
None of her recipes were written down, so I started recording everything as she cooked. And boy, did I get on her nerves! 😂 In 2008, I published those recipes in my cookbook, Mom's Authentic Assyrian Recipes. In 2017, I started Hilda's Kitchen Blog, which has since grown into a collection of recipes inspired by cuisines from around the world.
Join me as I share my love of food, culture, and storytelling, one recipe at a time. Whether you're an experienced cook or just getting started, I hope you'll find plenty of inspiration, discover new flavors, and feel right at home in my kitchen!
Readers' Favorites & My Personal Picks
Cabbage Dolma
My all-time favorite dish, cabbage dolma. I prefer meat in the filling, but there's also a vegetarian option. When cooked right, dolma is loaded with flavor and just melts in your mouth. If you've never tried it, it's a must!
Smoked Chicken Thighs
This smoked chicken thighs recipe is one of my top recipes, and one that my readers love! It's easy to prepare, and the result is tender, juicy smoked chicken with crispy skin!
Corned Beef Spices
I created this corned beef seasoning because that little packet included with the roast just wasn't enough, and no other recipes existed at the time. Who knew such a simple recipe would put my blog on the map?
Birria Tacos
These birria tacos are so good, they should be illegal! Making the birria in a pressure cooker cuts the cooking time in half, so you can enjoy these flavorful tacos without spending all day in the kitchen.
Meet My Daughter
Nena Sterner
Hi, I'm Nena! I've been a contributor to Hilda's Kitchen Blog since 2023. I love exploring Asian cuisine, but I'm also a fan of cozy comfort foods, like my Polish dill pickle soup (Zupa Ogórkowa).
Outside the kitchen, I'm a wedding photographer, photo editor, and occasional world traveler. I share my adventures in travel, food, and lifestyle on my own blog, The Seaside Calls.
Stay in Touch!
I would love to hear from you! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, & TikTok, or reach out through my Contact page!