Natalya Drozhzhin

Recipe Developer and Founder of Momsdish

Natalya Drozhzhin is a Ukrainian-American food blogger and founder of Momsdish, who authored over 1,200 inspiring recipes. Her cooking philosophy comes from Eastern European techniques and Soviet-era resourcefulness, learned from her mother during Ukraine’s food scarcity. She lives in Nashville with her husband Timofey and two sons.

Early Life & Background

Ukrainian village — Nalya’s home village — Velykhiv

Natalya’s culinary journey began on a small farm in Ukraine, near the Belarus border. She grew up during the collapse of the Soviet Union, an era of severe food shortages and empty store shelves. While her father worked long days in the wheat fields, Natalya watched her mother masterfully transform simple ingredients into nourishing family meals.

Growing up in this environment taught Natalya that the best cooking comes not from abundance, but from understanding how to make every ingredient count. These formative years instilled in her a deep respect for food and the power of a home-cooked meal to bring families together, even in the most challenging times.

Career

Natalya in the office — Natalya Setting Up for Interview

After immigrating to the United States in 1998, Natalya built a successful career in marketing and insurance, earning “Top Producer” awards in both fields. However, after marrying her husband Timofey and welcoming their sons Ethan and Jacob, she found herself longing for the simplicity of her mother’s kitchen. Despite having access to every ingredient imaginable in America, she struggled to recreate the effortless magic her mother brought to everyday cooking.

This realization sparked the creation of Momsdish—a platform dedicated to bridging the gap between old-world wisdom and modern life. What started as a way to document family recipes has grown into one of the most trusted recipe resources online, reaching over 2.5 million home cooks each month.

Cooking Philosophy & Expertise

Natalya’s approach to recipe development is refreshingly straightforward: use what you have, keep it simple, make it delicious. Her recipes often call for just salt and pepper as seasonings, proving that good food doesn’t need complicated spice blends or hard-to-find ingredients. This minimalist approach has made her a go-to resource for:

Authentic Ukrainian and Slavic cuisine made accessible for American kitchens
Simplified cooking techniques that deliver maximum flavor with minimum fuss
Family-friendly meals that work for busy weeknight dinners
Traditional recipes adapted with readily available ingredients

Her expertise extends beyond Ukrainian cuisine to include dishes from across the former Soviet Union, often featuring recipes that Timofey grew up with in Russia, creating a comprehensive collection of Slavic comfort foods adapted for contemporary cooks.

Notable Achievements

Natalya’s influence in the culinary world extends far beyond recipe development:

She serves as a consultant for several multi-billion dollar food companies, helping them understand and navigate the evolving food space.

She has acted as a brand ambassador for national campaigns like Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. and for brands such as Pierre Bread.

Her work has been featured in leading media outlets like USA Today, BuzzFeed, and Good Morning America, and has been cited in several academic publications.

Natalya’s recipes have been adopted by hundreds of restaurants and cafes worldwide, a testament to their reliability and flavor.

She is a host on Momsdish Podcast, where she and her husband, Timofey, share personal stories and interview fellow creators.a

Current Work & Mission

Today, Natalya continues to develop recipes that honor her heritage while serving the needs of modern families. Through Momsdish, she’s on a mission to bring families back to the dinner table with wholesome, home-cooked meals that don’t require culinary degrees or hours in the kitchen.

Working alongside her husband Timofey, she produces content across multiple platforms, including their family Instagram account @thedrozhzhins and the Momsdish Podcast, where they explore the intersection of food, family, and the immigrant experience in America.

Personal Life

Natalya lives in the United States with Timofey—her husband of 20 years—and their two sons, Jacob and Ethan. When she’s not in the kitchen, she enjoys spending time with her family and continuing to learn about the science and art of cooking through specialty courses and culinary education.

Her greatest joy comes from the thousands of messages she receives from readers who’ve made her recipes their own, proving that her mother’s lessons from that small Ukrainian farm continue to nourish families around the world.