Hi, I’m Maya Wilder, and I’m 28 years old.
These days, I live just outside Denver, Colorado, where the mountains feel close enough to touch and the mornings always smell like pine and fresh air.

I grew up in a small desert town in Arizona, where summer days felt endless and most meals happened outdoors. My earliest food memory is standing barefoot in my grandmother’s garden, helping her pick tomatoes still warm from the sun. She didn’t follow recipes—she followed her senses: a pinch here, a drizzle there, and always a taste before committing. That’s where it all began for me—the quiet magic of cooking, the joy of gathering around food, and the belief that the kitchen is a place where people connect.

After high school, I studied graphic design, worked in a tiny local café on weekends, and spent evenings experimenting with ingredients I couldn’t even pronounce properly. But no matter how many paths I tried to take, the kitchen always called me back—loudly, stubbornly, lovingly.

I eventually moved to Denver, where I spent a few years working in small bistros and cozy bakeries—slinging sourdough at dawn, plating desserts at midnight, and learning everything I could from chefs who spoke through flavor instead of words. I burned cookies, overwhipped cream, dropped a full tray of crème brûlée once (don’t ask), and learned to keep going even when the kitchen felt like chaos.

Somewhere in that whirlwind, my cooking philosophy started to form:
Keep it simple. Cook with heart. Trust your senses.

I began writing down my favorite recipes—fast weeknight dinners, cozy soups, colorful salads, refreshing drinks, and the kind of desserts that turn an ordinary evening into a small celebration. I shared them with friends, then online, and somehow a tiny hobby turned into a community I cherish every single day.

Today, I’m the creator behind YEPIM, where I share the kind of recipes I love most—flavorful, approachable, and joyful.
You’ll find everything from:

• Quick breakfast ideas
• Easy lunch & dinner
• Comforting soups & stews
• Fresh salads
• Drinks & smoothies
• Irresistible desserts
• And lifestyle-friendly dishes (keto, vegan, high-protein, gluten-free)

I’m not here to intimidate you with fancy techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
My mission is simple:
Make cooking feel fun, doable, and full of flavor—no matter your skill level.

Whether you’re learning how to sauté for the first time or just looking for something delicious to make tonight, you’re welcome here. The kitchen can be messy, loud, and unpredictable…
but it’s also one of the most comforting places in the world.

Cooking has taught me more than how to make a perfect roast or whip up a silky sauce.
It’s taught me:

• patience
• curiosity
• flexibility
• and how to laugh when things fall apart (because they will)

Food is memory, language, comfort, and celebration—all at once.
And I believe the best meals aren’t always the fancy ones; they’re the ones shared with people we love.

So whether you’re a seasoned home cook or holding a whisk for the very first time—
welcome.
There’s always a seat for you here, and always something new to explore.

Let’s cook, taste, and grow together.