About Erin Indahl-Fink, Creator and Author of Delightful E Made

What I strive to create at Delightful E Made

Here are Delightful E Made I offer healthy and delicious recipes made delightfully easy. My philosophy is to create simple, approachable recipes that don’t require a ton of time or mountains of expensive ingredients. My Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes and Blueberry Overnight Oats are a perfect examples of real, delicious food made with simple ingredients.

I believe there are few things more personal than gathering around the table with the people you love. Reconnecting as friends and family, while sharing amazing food is at the heart of living a healthy, well-rounded life.

I’m someone who loves to cook and bake, but like you my time is very limited. I’m a mom of a very busy and active teenager, Harry, and wife to Jason. Like you, most days I don’t have a ton of time to spend in the kitchen – I value the time and moments with my guys.

Erin’s Background

I was born and raised in rural South Dakota, which sometimes seems worlds away from where I live now, suburban Washington, D.C. I’m the oldest of four kids and the only girl. As an adult I now bring that hands-on knowledge of cooking for a family and balancing a tight budget to how I develop recipes for home cooks.

By the time I was 8, I was very active in 4-H where I learned all the basics of cooking, food safety, food preservation, baking science and horticulture where we grew much of our own food.

For ten years I participated in the 4-H Special Foods Program, which is a cooking contest designed for kids. It taught me how to prepare a meal from start to finish, the nutritional value of the foods I was using, along with proper food safety and measurements. This spurred an interest in cooking contents, as I later went on to win the South Dakota Beef Cook Off and the Idaho Beef Cook Off.

In the Great Plains of the Mid-West, we grew up on good casseroles, hearty beef and chicken recipes, homemade pies, cakes, cookies and plenty of ice cream in the summer. My grandparents were dairy farmers and instilled in me the value of farm-to-table food and how American farmers are truly the source of sustenance for our world.

Education and Professional Career

• 1999: Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Marketing, Minor in Mass Communications from The University of South Dakota School of Business, Vermillion, South Dakota.
• 1999 – 2008: Career in Communications Marketing, Sales and Project Management in the Technology Sector, Boise, Idaho and Herndon, Virginia.
• 2013 – Present: CEO and Founder of DelightfulEMade.com

Erin’s Story

As a teenager I was a bit of a “Sporty Spice.” I was a three-sport athlete in Basketball, Volleyball and Golf. At an early age I learned weight training, conditioning and learned how to fuel my body properly for sports performance.

Once I graduated college and retired from high school sports, the weight began to creep on, almost immediately. By the time I graduated college from The University of South Dakota, I had gained about 50 lbs from the time I graduated high school.

After getting my first desk-job outside of college, I took on a full-time sedentary lifestyle and gained even more weight. I got married, had a child, moved across the country a few times. By the time I was in my early-30’s I was over 100 lbs heavier and pre-diabetic. I knew something had to change in order for me to be the mom I wanted to be for my son.

Erin’s Weight Loss Journey

This is where my weight-loss journey began. I implemented less fast food (I use to eat fast food almost daily), and more cooking at home, along with meal prep. The first-hand knowledge I gained in my own personal weight loss journey helped inspire numerous recipes as well as my Quick-Start Guide to Healthy Eating Workbook and my 90-Day Healthy Habits Journal.

I also found my “Sporty-Spice” again at Orange Theory Fitness where I’ve taken over 1700 HIIT classes. As a valued “fit-family” community member, I’ve led numerous Healthy Eating Seminars and Transformation Challenge Fit Food events.

It took me 3 1/2 years, but I finally lost over 100 lbs and have maintained my weight loss for over 8 years.

Here are my favorite resources that guided my weight loss and helped make healthy eating easier:

• My Favorite Tools for Healthy Living
• How I Quit Sugar and Survived
• 15 Things I buy at Costco for Quick and Healthy Meals
• 30 BEST Healthy Target Snacks
• Breakfast Meal Prep
• The 90 Day Healthy Habits Journal

Author of the Protein Smoothie Bible and Healthy Easy Weeknight Dinners

In addition to creating recipes here at Delightful E Made, I have published a couple of cookbooks; The Protein Smoothie Bible and Healthy Easy Weeknight Dinners eBook.

In addition to my web site, you can get The Protein Smoothie Bible anywhere books are sold, including Amazon and Books-A-Million.

Notable Publications & Brand Mentions

I’ve had the honor of being featured in numerous print and digital publications. It’s been quite an amazing experience! Here are just a few places I’ve been featured:

• Cabin Living Magazine (Print) | October 2014 Issue, Apple Cider Glazed Pork Chops Feature
• Women’s World Magazine (Print) | August 31, 2020 Issue, Featured Mixologist, Page 4
• The Barnes and Noble Cookie Bake-Off Cookbook | Featured Baker
• Contributor at Food.com | How to Make Smoothies, How to Bake Chicken,
• Self Magazine | 15 Thanksgiving Recipes You Can Make in a Slow Cooker
• Redbook Magazine | 18 Fall Cocktails
• Huffington Post | Post Exercise Nutrition: Are You Eating for Results
• Delish | 24 Unexpected Things You Can Make in a Bundt Pan
• House Beautiful Magazine | 19 Coffee Cocktails that will be the Star of Your Brunch
• Parade Magazine | Grilled Pork Recipes
• BuzzFeed | 12 Healthy Snacks for You to Try
• Country Living Magazine | 15 Hawaiian Theme Party Ideas
• Tasty | 27 Pumpkin Desserts Perfect for Fall
• PopSugar.com | Easy Summer Dinners
• Elle Decor Magazine | 30 Delicious Appetizers to Start Your Year off Right
• Brit + Co | Chocolate Cocktail Recipes
• Tufts Medicine | Healthy Back to School Lunch Ideas

What type of recipes does Delightful E Made offer?

Here at DEM, you’ll find quick, simple and healthy dinner ideas, easy meal prep ideas and make-ahead breakfasts, lunches and snacks. I also offer sweet treats and cocktail recipes, because living your healthiest life should also mean enjoying the occasional brownie or margarita, right?!

Are you looking for something specific? Feel free to search our recipe index by ingredient, cooking method or course.

Here are some of our all-time most popular recipes that readers love:

What type of recipes are your favorite?

I ALWAYS love hearing from you. Please feel free to visit me on Instagram at @delightfulemade where I’m active daily. You can also send me an email at delightful.e.made@gmail.com . Let me know what recipes you are always looking for or the kinds of foods that make your life a little easier.

With that being said – Welcome, again! I’m so happy to have you here.