When The Lemon Bowl launched back in 2010, Liz Della Croce had no idea what the future looked like.

Over a decade later, her business is thriving and has given her the freedom to be home for her 2 boys, something she always dreamt of.

And on this segment of The Spill, she’s sharing:

• Why she started a retreat (and what it’s all about!)

• The 2 places in the world that have inspired her most

• The recipe that landed her a segment on the TODAY show

And more! Let’s dive in

Your background!

My family is Syrian and Jewish so many of the recipes I share with my audience are inspired by the long line of incredible cooks on both sides of my family. I graduated with a degree in Hospitality Administration from Boston University and was working full time in hotel sales for Marriott International before I started The Lemon Bowl in 2010.

What’s your favorite accomplishment as a creator so far?

The Lemon Bowl is turning 14 this year and my boys are now 10 and 12. Being able to raise my kids while working from home is by far my greatest accomplishment. Growing up, my mom was a stay at home mom and it was always a dream to be able to do the same. The fact that I was able to also grow a business that now supports our family is truly a gift (and a miracle).

You’re the co-founder of Fresh Air Retreat. Can you share a little more about what that is?

Fresh Air Retreat is an experiential marketing and content creation retreat that brings together high-level food bloggers along with a handful of brand sponsors in an intimate environment conducive to learning, knowledge sharing and growing our businesses.

I’ve been hosting food blogger retreats for over a decade and this spring marks my 12th retreat. I began hosting retreats because I am a firm believer of fostering relationships and connecting with others in person. In my opinion, nothing online beats the value of facetime.

Several years ago, I decided to bring on a partner (the incredible Lauren Grier of The Curious Plate) at which point we launched the official Fresh Air Retreat brand. Since then, the retreat has continued to grow and evolve and it gets better and better each time.

What does email marketing look like for you? How do you engage with your subscribers?

Our goal with email marketing is quality over quantity. We’ve worked really hard over the last 14 years to foster a true community of engaged readers who are passionate about cooking healthy meals for their families.

What’s your favorite thing to make right now?

I’ve been making homemade chicken stock once a week and then creating a new soup with it almost every day. For example, one day I might make Greek Lemon Chicken Soup (Avgolemono), another day I might turn it into Lebanese Chicken Soup with Chickpeas or traditional Matzo Ball Soup. Whenever I have chicken stock on hand, the options are endless and my tastebuds never get bored.

As someone who’s obsessed with travel, which places have inspired you the most as a creator?

New Orleans and Mexico - hands down! New Orleans because it is cuisine I didn't grow up eating so it’s all a new adventure for me. Mexico because I love how well balanced the food is with spicy, salty, sour and sweet flavors.

You had the chance to cook live on the TODAY show! How did that happen? What’d you cook?

I randomly won an online cooking contest based on popular vote for my Pesto Chicken Pasta with Swiss Chard! My first born son was only 5 months old when we flew to NYC for the segment. It was a total whirlwind but such a blast! Ironically, that was my first time appearing on TV and I now tape regular cooking segments on my local ABC/NBC affiliates.

What advice do you have for other creators?

Don’t take advice from other creators. Put blinders on and focus on how you can best serve your audience. Ask yourself: what problem am I solving? How am I making someone else's life easier? Too many bloggers get stuck worrying about what others think or how to impress other creators. 

Biggest takeaways from The Lemon Bowl’s last 10+ years

With more than 10 years of experience as a recipe creator, Liz has a ton of wisdom to share.

But ultimately, everything she does always comes back to family.

From honoring her Syrian and Jewish roots to raising her 2 boys and creating healthy meals.

This focus has helped keep her on track for the last decade. And it resonates deeply with her audience.

So when in doubt, take a page out of Liz’s playbook. Don’t get too caught up in what other creators are doing. Focus on what makes you, YOU and steer clear of shiny objects.

Go follow @thelemonbowl to see what else Liz has cooking!