Beth Combs brought home more than memories from her spring 2011 study abroad trip to Ireland. Hoping to keep friends and family in the loop, Combs began keeping a blog of her adventures, which, added to her discovered passion for food and cooking, has resulted in her newest blogging venture: Foodinary.net.

“I had always enjoyed baking in the past, but in Ireland, cooking became more than just a hobby – it became my life,” Combs said. “I was consumed with discovering new recipes, techniques, and ingredients. It was also in Ireland that I first began taking photographs of my creations.”

Foodinary, inspired by the food blogs Combs stumbled upon during the summer of 2011, was created the following September with the help of AQ alumnus, Josh Davis ’09. Although it isn’t obvious when reading through her entries, Combs said, “It was all a bit overwhelming at first. But now I am learning more about blogging, cooking, and photography than I could have ever imagined.”

With recipes like Whole-Wheat Chocolate Orange Scones, Apple Bacon BBQ Sauce, Julia Childs’ famous Beouf Bourginon, and some delectable photos to boot, it is easy to see why so many follow Combs’ food exploits.

“I was so impressed by the reflective nature of her descriptions of food! The photos of the foods she describes and prepares are colorful and look really appetizing,” said Dr. Mary Clinthorne of the Geography Department, who came across Foodinary after asking her students for an interesting fact about themselves. Combs jotted down Foodinary.net, and an intrigued Dr. Clinthorne looked at the website that night. “When I looked at her blog I thought, ‘I’d love to be in her kitchen!’ It’s wonderful to see students exploring interests and talents beyond the classroom.”

Combs, who graduated in May 2012 with a major in social studies for secondary education and a minor in history, will be student teaching at Forest Hills Central High School in the fall of 2012. Although she is focusing on earning her teaching certificate right now, Combs definitely has plans for the future of Foodinary, including a dream to write a travel cookbook, recording various dishes and flavors from around the world.

“At this point, the blog is just my escape from my hectic schedule,” Combs said. “I find nothing more enjoyable than making delicious creations for the people I love. Being able to document my passion and share it with individuals all over the world is just a bonus.”

For all those considering starting up a blog, or who might be beginners, Combs offers a bit of advice: “First of all, only blog if you love it! Try not to get caught up in the number of views or comments you receive for each post. If you are having fun, the statistics shouldn’t matter. Secondly, try to become involved in your blogging community. Read other blogs, leave comments, and be positive! Eventually, other bloggers will recognize your name and check out your blog as well.”

“Ultimately, I hope that Foodinary inspires people to be creative in their cooking,” said Combs. “It is so exciting when people tell me how much they enjoyed one of the Foodinary recipes. It just goes to show that with just a little bit of effort, even the simplest ingredients can become something extraordinary!”