Hi! I’m Ali, and I am so happy that you found your way here.
I created Gimme Some Oven to celebrate life around the table, with recipes that are simple, fresh, and full of flavor. With two littles underfoot these days, I know how relentless the dinner grind can feel. My hope is that this space can offer a bit of inspiration for everyone — and make everyday cooking feel a bit more fun.
So whether you’re throwing together a quick weeknight dinner, hosting a cozy brunch with friends, or just craving a warm batch of cookies, I hope you’ll find recipes here that feel doable and delicious.
Cheers!
About Ali
About Me
When I began Gimme Some Oven back in 2009, I was working full-time as a musician by day and spending my evenings cooking, photographing, and sharing recipes just for fun. Over time, that creative outlet grew into a full-time career — and for more than a decade now, I’ve had the absolute joy of writing and developing recipes here on Gimme Some Oven.
Even after all these years, it still feels like magic to create a recipe in my kitchen and see it come to life on tables all around the world! Your trust in my recipes means the world to me, and I work hard to make sure each one is thoughtfully developed, thoroughly tested, and truly worth making — the kind of recipe you’ll want to return to again and again.
Beyond the blog, my husband and I are now settling back into life in Kansas City with our two young boys after spending six wonderful years living in Barcelona. My favorite things include sunny days, an excellent plate of nachos, lingering around tables with good friends, and always dreaming up our next adventure. I occasionally share more about life behind the scenes here if you’d like to follow along.
About Gimme Some Oven
So what kinds of recipes will you find here?
Short answer: a bit of everything.
The recipes I share here are the ones we’re actually making and eating in our home. My husband is pescetarian, our boys are still a bit veggie-suspicious, and I enjoy a wide range of foods — so our meals reflect that mix. We do our best to cook seasonally, and most weeknights are all about quick, flavorful recipes that come together in 30 minutes or less. But I also love slowing down on the weekends with a cozy cup of coffee and baking our favorite 1-Hour Cinnamon Rolls, or inviting friends over for a big pot of chili with homemade guac and margaritas.
You’ll notice here that we’ve got a soft spot for Mexican food, big bowls of soup, noodles in all forms, and cookies of just about every variety. While most of my recipes lean fresh and lighter, you’ll also find your fair share of fun treats and comfort food favorites — we’re all about balance!
My hope is that you’ll find recipes here that work well for real life, whatever that looks like for you right now. And if there’s ever a recipe you’re craving, I’d love to hear from you!
My Favorite Recipes
FAQs
I can’t take the credit. 😉 The name actually came from my former bandmate, Jay, who tossed it out during a rehearsal years ago when I mentioned I was thinking about starting a food blog. It made us all laugh — and it stuck! Now it feels like a fun little reminder of my past life as a full-time musician.
You bet! Every single one of the 2000+ recipes on this site has been developed and tested in my own kitchen. I now have a team of recipe testers who join me each week to test old and new recipes to help ensure they are as clear, reliable, and delicious as possible. We want each recipe to be the best it can be when it reaches your table!
The best way to ask about substitutions is to leave a comment on that specific recipe post. That way, we’ll be sure to see it, and other readers can benefit from the answer too.
Yes! We’re constantly retesting, updating and rephotographing older recipes to make sure they’re as reliable and delicious as possible. Whenever we make a significant change, we do our best to note it clearly in the recipe notes so that you know what’s been updated.
No. We made the decision back in 2018 to stop publishing sponsored content on Gimme Some Oven. While we were grateful to partner with brands we genuinely loved in the past, it’s important to us that readers know all product mentions are now completely unpaid — just things we personally use and recommend.
This is probably the most-asked question we receive. Sorry, not yet! I keep putting it off, but someday I look forward to finally writing one. 💛
Giving Back
While we love creating and sharing recipes here, we also recognize what a profound privilege it is to have consistent access to fresh food, clean water, and a safe place to gather around the table. Not everyone has that — the statistics are sobering, and they remind us how important it is to keep working toward change.
That’s why we donate a portion of our profits to support three organizations working to fight food insecurity and expand access to nutritious food and clean water around the world. Every time you visit this site, your pageviews directly help support that work too, and we’re so grateful. We’d love for you to learn more about these incredible organizations and consider supporting them in whatever ways you can too.
It’s our hope that this space not only inspires delicious meals, but also plays a small part in supporting communities far beyond our own kitchens.
TWP is a community-led initiative in Mali focused on developing economic opportunities for women through organic food production, access to clean water, and a commitment to environmental stewardship.
Cultivate Kansas City is a locally-grown nonprofit working to grow food, farms, and community in support of an equitable, sustainable and healthy local food system for all.
World Central Kitchen is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Ali – love all your recipes! Question on the Roasted Tomato Salsa – do you put any seasonings on the tomatoes, onions, garlic and jalapenos when you roast them in the oven? The great picture looks like there’s maybe some salt & pepper? Or perhaps it just the blistering from the broil? Thank you – and again, love love all your recipes!
Love your recipes! And so cool that you are from KC. I’m from Independence myself. I feel like I can always find a good, high quality recipe when in need of it. I need to follow you on Instagram as I would love to go back to Spain! Keep on blogging!
Sarah
I hope you write a cookbook in the near future- I’ve been keeping an eye out for this, not just for myself, but for several of my friends. You a Have been my go-to for years. My kids love your recipes, I love your recipes too! Thanks for not forcing yourself into a niche!!
Just found your site when I was looking for a Moscow Mule recipe. I read through your day in the life blog and your about me and watching some of your videos on the side! Everything looks amazing. I will be following you now and looking forward to it! Great job! Jenn
OMG I made your egg drop soup. Soooooo yummy and that’s saying something considering I’m half Chinese!! If you’re reading Ali’s blog and you don’t try the Egg Drop Soup Recipe you are crazy. So easy and my mom (She’s Chinese!!) loved it.
Looking forward to trying some of your recipes. I’ve been cooking for lots of years but have lost my enthusiasm for it. Need inspuration.
Ali, I’m so excited to find you again! I subscribed to your blog years ago with an email account I no longer use. I’ll sign up again. Living in Barcelona must be so amazing. Thanks for all great recipes!
I was wondering what went into Za Atar seasoning. It’s what is served on my favorite Naan bread at Ali Baba’s Mediterranean Restaurant in Dallas, Texas. I googled it and found your cooking site. One thing led to another (I watched your wedding video and some monthly videos) and here we are. You two are so cute and seem so sweet. I wish you the best in all your endeavors. Can’t wait to try my first recipe from you (Best Chicken Enchiladas) with that special Red Sauce! I’m from Texas and I love LOVE Mexican food. The spicer the better. I look further on your site for Paella… I’ve always wanted to make it. I’m 62 and like to try new things. I am tending to eat more veggies, fruits and lots of greens for health, so your blog is really interesting to me. Thank you for your hard work and pics and everything. God bless you!
Oh my stars! I am so excited to make falafel. I’ve feared making them, but love falafel, and thanks to you I feel like I’m up for giving it a try. I love your recipes and more importantly my family loves your recipes. You cook and eat like we love to eat. Thanks for this!
Hey Ali! Just got back from the AP Reading in KC and thought of You! Downtown is sure picking up thanks to the streetcar. There was the huge social event near Union Station (1st Friday of the month), and seemed like bands and social events were popping up everywhere. Anyway, just wanted to touch base and say “Hi!”
Ann
Hi Ali,
I am making a carrot cake for my daughter’s wedding. Just got on the computer and I’m already convinced that your recipe is the one! I’d like to do a large sheet cake to cut for the guests. Will that work or is it better in smaller pans? I’m not a professional baker but it sounds like this will be perfect! Please advise.
Many thanks!
Martha