Hi, I’m Melissa Mountjoy — and yes, my last name really is Mountjoy haha!

I work in the IT field, but outside of tech, one of my biggest passions has always been cooking. I love experimenting with foods from all around the world while also staying connected to my roots through Brazilian food and desserts.

You’ll find a little bit of everything here — comforting homemade meals, sweet treats, and recipes inspired by both tradition and creativity.

Journey

Home Cook

Kitchen

2010 – Present

Cooking has always been my way to unwind, create, and connect with the people I love.

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Food Blogger & YouTube

@meljoykitchen

2025 – Present

Sharing my passion for food through simple, approachable, and flavorful video recipes.

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Cottage Food Home Bakery

Coming Soon in Virginia!

Future Plans

Building a cozy home bakery focused on homemade desserts and specialty treats.

About MelJoyKitchen

MelJoyKitchen started with the simple intention of becoming my personal online cookbook.

I’ve always loved cooking, but I absolutely hate writing recipes down. Because of that, I began recording my recipes and posting videos on YouTube so I could easily remember how to make them later.

Over time, friends and family kept asking me for recipes, and I realized having a website alongside my YouTube channel would be the perfect way to share step-by-step instructions with everyone.

This website became a place where I could combine both of my passions — food and building websites — while sharing recipes I genuinely enjoy making, experimenting with, and serving to the people I love.

Whether you’re here to try something new or recreate a nostalgic favorite, I hope these recipes bring as much joy to your kitchen as they do to mine.

Thank you for being here and following along on this journey!