About

Photo by Jay Rasmussen Photography

Hi, I'm Rebekah Garcia.

Welcome to Kitchen Gidget, where I share tried-and-true family favorite Puerto Rican and Mexican recipes inspired by my Midwestern roots. I started this site in 2013 after sharing from-scratch meals on Instagram. Thirteen years and over 300 recipes later, it continues to be a place for home cooks looking for flavorful, approachable recipes with personal roots.

I'm a self-taught home cook, which means my recipes are created in a real home kitchen with everyday ingredients, and practical home cooks in mind. I care most about food that tastes good, feels doable, and is worth making again. Most of the food here are family recipes that have been passed down for 3 generations, which means they've been tested multiple times.

How did you start cooking and blogging?

I grew up in a family with good cooks and bakers. When I was about 7 years old, my father brought home the Teddy Bear's Picnic Cookbook. I made the Vegetable and Cheese Pitas (modified by adding poached chicken!) and that's the first time I can remember cooking on my own.

In 2013 I was furloughed from my job. With the extra time on my hands, I began documenting my from-scratch meals on Instagram. I received so much positive feedback and people asking for recipes, I began thinking: I should start a food blog. The rest is history, as they say.

What kind of recipes do you make?

Here you'll find a mix of family favorites, desserts, Puerto Rican recipes, Mexican-inspired dishes, and comforting meals from my Midwestern upbringing. Some recipes are nostalgic, some are everyday staples, and many are tied to the people and places that shaped the way I cook.

Why Puerto Rican food?

Puerto Rican food became a meaningful part of my life through the people closest to me, and many of those flavors have become staples in my own kitchen. At Kitchen Gidget, I share Puerto Rican recipes in a way that is approachable for home cooks, with clear instructions and personal context where it helps. You can read more about that here. This blog also highlights recipes from my Mexican and Polish heritage.

Where did the name "Gidget" come from?

The name "Gidget" comes from a nickname coworkers gave me years ago, inspired by the 1959 beach movie and my petite height. It stuck, and eventually it became part of the site name. I haven't got a surf board, but I know a thing or two about cutting boards!

Thanks for reading and I hope you experience some of the joy that comes from creating and sharing!

Gidget LOVES the beach! The photo below is one of my wedding pictures.

Recipe Testing & Editorial Standards

Every recipe on Kitchen Gidget is made in my home kitchen with the goal of making it clear, approachable, and worth repeating. I test recipes for flavor, texture, timing, and ease of preparation, and I update older posts when I can make the instructions clearer or more helpful for readers.

You won't find overly complicated recipes or formal restaurant-style techniques here. My focus is on food that real home cooks can make, enjoy, and share with friends and family. Buen provecho!

Blogging Tools

I get asked about blogging a lot and here are some of the tools I used to get started or currently use. These are my essentials and worth every penny! The links are my affiliates, which means I may earn a commission:

There's much, much more that goes into it, but I'm happy to answer any questions you have!