I Don’t Just Cook — Here’s What I Think While I’m Writing a Recipe Post
aka: A peek inside the pot and the Google doc
You’d think writing about food would be simple: list the ingredients, write a few steps, done. But every time I sit down to share a recipe, my brain quietly starts asking questions like:
Is it butternut soup or butternut squash soup?
Should I say “roast until caramelized” or just “cook till golden”?
And would Yoast please stop yelling at me about transition words?
I want my recipes to show up on Google — of course I do. But I also want you to feel like I’m talking to you, not writing a user manual for soup.
So what does that look like?
It means I’m constantly balancing two voices:
→ The one that knows which keywords need to be there (air fryer butternut squash soup recipe)
→ And the one that says, “Let me tell you how I really made this and why you should, too.”
Here’s the truth:
SEO is just part of the recipe — but so is heart.
I’ve spent a lot of time this month learning how to blend both. The result? A cozy post about how I made soup without peeling a single thing... and somehow made Google happy too (sort of).
The Recipe That Triggered This Thought Spiral:
Air Fryer Butternut Squash Soup – No Peeling, Just Roast & Blend!
Creamy, golden, hands-off, and packed with flavor. I walk you through how I really made it — the good, the messy, the “I didn’t even preheat the air fryer” bit.
A Few Other Thoughts That Came Up While Writing:
“How much detail is too much when it’s literally just blending soup?”
“Would you want to scroll past a 7-step air fryer breakdown — or just get to the toppings?”
“What if the thing people love most is the breadcrumb tip I added at the last minute?”
I’ve learned not to over-polish. Readers don’t need me to sound like a food robot. They just want to know:
👉 Does it taste good?
👉 Will it work?
👉 Is this actually worth making?
So here I am — thinking out loud while writing about roasted garlic and sweet butternut flesh.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between writing what works and writing what feels right, I see you.
And if you’re just here for the soup... good choice.
Craving Cozy?
Simple Chicken Soup — easy, nourishing, and ready in just 20 minutes.
Perfect for your next comforting meal.
Real Talk: My Best Tips for Air Fryer Butternut Squash Soup
💡 Real Talk: My Best Tips for Air Fryer Butternut Squash Soup
🧄 Roasting the garlic makes all the difference — it turns sweet, soft, and mellow.
🍯 A little olive oil and brown sugar on the butternut takes the flavor from good to deeply caramelized.
⏲️ You don’t need to preheat the air fryer — just pop the veg in and go.
🔪 No peeling, no slicing — truly. The air fryer does the heavy lifting.
🌱 Finish with toppings: toasted seeds, herbs, or a swirl of cream or coconut milk.
🥄 Use a spoon or spatula to get every last bit of roasted squash into the blender — it’s worth it.
🧡 If you enjoyed this post, feel free to forward it to a fellow soup-lover or share it on your socials — it really helps my kitchen reach new readers.
Until next time,
Miranda xo
📥 P.S. Want to stock your pantry for cozy meals like this?
Download my free Comfort Food Pantry & Equipment Checklist — it’s what I use when I need an easy, warming meal on short notice.