Location
Knoxville, Tennessee
School
Whatcom Community College, Western Washington University
Expertise
Coffee, Grocery savings and accessibility, Budget-friendly recipes
- Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Barb developed an early love of fresh salmon, Dungeness crab, and the kind of strong coffee that could double as a survival tool.
- Barb has experienced good food all over the U.S. — from Swinomish smoked salmon and fry bread in the Pacific Northwest to Louisiana étouffée, moose jerky in Alaska, Oklahoma fried okra, and the pepperoni rolls that won her heart in West Virginia.
- Whether she's tracking down the origins of a beloved comfort food or figuring out how to stretch a can of tuna into something worth bragging about, Barb's driving question is always the same: how do we make good food work for real life?
Experience
Barb is a writer and researcher with more than 30 years of experience, the last decade spent covering home, kitchen, and lifestyle topics professionally, including for Static Media's House Digest. She joined Daily Meal because she believes food is one of the most powerful ways people connect, and that every meal has a story worth telling. She was shaped by two family cooking traditions: Scottish and Irish recipes passed down from her father's side and Native American and Appalachian dishes from her mother's. She came to food writing the way most people come to food -- through memory, family, and a lot of time at the stove. A hands-on home cook who also bakes bread, smokes meats and cheeses, ferments, and preserves, Barb believes great food is for everyone regardless of budget or skill level.
Education
Barb earned an associate's degree in anthropology from Whatcom Community College.
Daily Meal’s content comes from an authoritative editorial staff that is dedicated to current and comprehensive coverage. With an aim to provide only informative and engaging content, our writers, editors, and experts take care to craft clear and concise copy on all things food-related, from news in the food service industry to in-depth explainers about what’s found in readers’ refrigerators, original recipes from experienced chefs, and more.
Our team also regularly reviews and updates articles as necessary to ensure they are accurate. For more information on our editorial process, view our full policies page.
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You may have heard that lining the drip trays on an electric stove is a good way to keep them clean. The truth is, this is a potentially dangerous practice.
By Barb Hudson
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Biting into an Oreo is a simple and delicious joy, so you'll definitely want to know why it might be different if you bought your cookie from Costco.
By Barb Hudson
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It's true that people have been buying food and goods from markets and stalls for thousands of years, but the grocery store is a relatively new concept.
By Barb Hudson
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The Sam's Club bakery has a new dessert made in-house daily in time for Summer. Here's what's in the treat and what people are saying about it.
By Barb Hudson
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Kroger is a powerhouse in the grocery industry, but do you know exactly how much it owns? The Midwestern grocery company also owns these 18 chains.
By Barb Hudson
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Cracker Barrel
By Barb Hudson
When it comes to restaurants that feature home cooking, Cracker Barrel takes a back seat to no one. There is one favorite menu item that is made from scratch.
By Barb Hudson
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Costco comes out with new items from time to time, often to the delight of shoppers. Its new seafood meal has not been received enthusiastically.
By Barb Hudson
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Before your next camping trip, look at these incredible cookware sets that can make your outdoor adventure easier without breaking the bank.
By Barb Hudson
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A stand mixer is always helpful to have in your kitchen, but with all of these colors for KitchenAid's well-known appliance, you may want more than one.
By Barb Hudson
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Kitchen Tools
By Barb Hudson
It's easy to always want the newest kitchen gadget, but these simple yet effective tools Boomers love will leave you nostalgic for the past.
By Barb Hudson
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Food History
By Barb Hudson
While the oldest recorded recipes we have for this cake are from the early 1800s, it would be safe to say that early colonists likely enjoyed them as well.
By Barb Hudson
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