Katie Olesen

Background & Experience 

I've been cooking and baking since childhood, thanks to my mom who always let me make a mess in the kitchen, and my dad who provided the cable TV that gave me access to countless hours of Food Network education from the likes of Ina Garten, Alton Brown, Sara Moulton, and more. I was such an avid baker, I asked for a KitchenAid stand mixer for Christmas at the age of 13. I had my very own cookbook collection as well, several of which I still reference to this day.

My passion for baking continued into my adult years, and while I never pursued my dream of going to culinary school, I did continue to refine my skills in the kitchen.

In 2018, life was turned upside down when I diagnosed with Celiac Disease. In that moment, I had to relearn everything I knew about baking. It was quite the journey and along the way I discovered a desire to create approachable recipes with ingredients you can actually find in your local grocery store.

Never satisfied with good enough, I am constantly refining my recipes until I achieve the best taste and texture. I simply don't believe "gluten-free" has to be synonymous with "cardboard."

Why You Can Trust My Recipes 

Every recipe on Wheat by the Wayside is tested multiple times with different gluten-free flour blends and simplified wherever possible. My educational background as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist means I naturally take a scientific approach in the kitchen, paying attention to details, troubleshooting what doesn't work, and documenting the process so you don't have to waste time or ingredients.

Katie's Expertise

• Gluten-free recipe development and testing
• Gluten-free baking techniques
• Recipe troubleshooting and adaptation
• Food photography

Education

• B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science, Northern Illinois University
• State Advocacy Ambassador for the Celiac Disease Foundation; as an ambassador, I received comprehensive training about celiac disease and actively engage with government representatives, urging them to take meaningful action on issues related to Celiac Disease, raising awareness, and advocating for research.

Fun Facts About Me

1. I live with my husband, two of my three kids (one's already flown the nest), and a spunky beta fish who prefers the tank all to himself.
2. I consider myself a lifelong learner, always eager to try new things, challenge my thought processes, and develop new skills.
3. I love being outside on a sunny day watching my kids play tennis or hiking through the canyons at our local state park.
4. My dream is to live near a beach, a lake, or a Trader Joe's.
5. I often say potatoes are my love language! I love them in all forms and I'm SO glad they are gluten-free!
6. I love collecting vintage cookbooks, most aren't "gluten-free" but I enjoy looking at the old photos and reading through the recipes for inspiration.

Where I've Been Featured

• Beyond Celiac as part of the gluten-free and celiac blogger community
• As a top rated celiac and gluten-free blog on Spokin
• In various roundups such as Find Me Gluten-Free's Best Gluten-Free Breakfast Recipes and Thanksgiving Recipes

I've also worked with many brands to create tasty recipes and content, like Bob's Red Mill, Maria and Ricardo's, Rudi's Rocky Mountain Bakery, CA Grown, Pamela's Products, and Chebe Bread.

Connect With Me

If you're interested in quotes, food photography, or recipe development, feel free to send me an email, connect with me in dm's, or check out my food photography portfolio over at katieolesen.com