Maria Vannelli is a self-taught baker, cook, writer and photographer sharing simple, family-friendly recipes at She Loves Biscotti food blog.
Maria likes to say she does not have a professional background as baker, cook, writer or photographer. She’s just a gal, living in Montreal, married (same amazing guy for 33 years!), mother of two awesome kids (no longer kids but still awesome) and most recently a grandmother. When she’s not talking about food, she’s either making it, eating it, sharing it or thinking about it.
By training, Maria is a professional dietitian. She also had the privilege of being born to Italian immigrants, so you knowfood is important to her!
You might say that her obsession with food is what motivated her to obtain a degree from McGill University. She graduated all the way back in 1987 with a Science Degree and a specialization in Dietetics. But that's not all! As a registered dietitian, Maria wanted to specialize in geriatric nutrition and in 1992, she completed a Certificate in Gerontology from Université de Montréal.
Throughout her career as a registered dietitian, Maria has worked in different geriatric institutions. She just recently retired as food service manager of an acute care hospital and four geriatric centers.
Maria’s mom was her inspiration and the reason she cooks and bakes. Following the sudden loss of her mother, Maria created the blog to document her mom's recipes. Along the way, she began to share some of her own favorites. She Loves Biscottiis about sharing simple, well balanced, family-friendly recipes that range from the traditional Italian dishes of Maria’s youth to modern twists on the classics, all using fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Maria's daughter, Sara, has helped with editing and proofreading posts since the blog's conception in 2014. Sara's ideas and insights about recipes, as well as her ongoing support and encouragement, have greatly contributed to the blog's success.
Maria hopes the simplicity of her recipes and the use of quality ingredients will inspire you to bring your loved ones closer together at meal times and empower you to create memorable moments around great food.