I’m Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack—a cookbook author, food blogger, and creative entrepreneur who turned a little family recipe blog into a six-figure business. Over the past 15 years, I’ve published three cookbooks, worked with major brands, and built a brand rooted in cultura, storytelling, and strategy. In Cocina to Career, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about turning your passion into a platform—mistakes and all.
Do you want to know what the hardest part has been?
It wasn’t writing recipes.
It wasn’t learning how to photograph food or figure out SEO (search engine optimization).
It wasn’t even juggling a million hats at once.
It was believing I was worth it.
We All Start Somewhere
When I first started blogging, I didn’t even know you could make money creating content. Muy Bueno was a love letter to our family recipes, our Sunday sobremesas. It wasn’t built with dollar signs in mind—it was built with my heart.
So when brands started reaching out, I didn’t know what to do. They’d say:
“We’ll send you a free slow cooker if you post a recipe!”
And I’d respond:
“¡Claro que sí!”
Because it felt exciting. Like validation. And honestly, I didn’t know I could ask for more.
For my first sponsored post, I charged $75 and received a free turquoise enamel casserole dish from IMUSA, a Hispanic cookware brand. In return, I shared a Beef Short Ribs recipe and shared it on my blog—with a whole lot of love and just as much self-doubt.
That post from 2011 is still live on my site today. It reminds me where I started. And how much things changed once I began believing in my worth.
Later that same year, IMUSA flew me out, covered ingredients, and paid for my time so I could make tamales with my mom and sister while testing their steamers.
That invoice? $2,000.
It felt like we had hit the jackpot.
By the end of 2011, I was charging $200 per recipe post and working not only with IMUSA, but also with Avocados from Mexico. Muy Bueno was growing—bit by bit, project by project.
In 2012, Avocados from Mexico sponsored my sister and me to attend a blogging conference in Seattle. That same year, the Muy Bueno cookbook was published—and I designed it myself. (Yep, I was still doing graphic design work on the side.)
And get this—the very first copy of our cookbook was dedicated to First Lady Michelle Obama. Yeah, pinch me! I still can’t get over the amazing opportunity to meet her. Here’s the video of the roundtable discussion with Mrs. Obama.
By mid-year, I was charging $600 per post, contributing recipes and articles to Latina magazine, and even managing brand campaigns—hiring other food bloggers and pitching ideas like a one-woman PR team.
I wasn’t monetizing with ads on my site yet—because I didn’t know ad networks existed! I was figuring it all out as I went.
By 2013, my client list included brands like Hunt’s, Bob’s Red Mill, Clabber Girl, Kraft, and California Strawberries. I traveled to Cancun for the Food & Wine Festival with Avocados from Mexico, attended a leadership summit with Princess House, and was producing YouTube videos. I was going from celebration recaps in San Antonio to cooking demos in my kitchen.
It all sounds so exciting—and it was! But I want to be clear: in 2012, I was also laid off from my full-time job as a graphic designer. I still wasn’t making what I made in corporate. But I was doing work that I loved. Work that felt meaningful. Work that was mine.
A Little Pep Talk for My Fellow Food Creators
If you’re just starting out—or if you’ve been at this for a while and still find yourself saying yes to unpaid “collabs”—I see you.
And I want to remind you of something:
You’re not just sharing recipes.
You’re sharing stories.
You’re building community.
You’re representing a culture that brands need—but can’t duplicate.
That has value. You have value.
Your Cafecito-Fueled Reminder
If you’re getting “collab” emails, that means someone sees your worth—even if they’re not offering to pay for it yet.
If a brand can afford a PR firm, they can afford to pay you.
If it feels scary to name your rate, say it anyway—and breathe through the silence.
The best negotiation advice I’ve ever received was this: Tell them what you want. Then stop talking.
It took me years to quiet that little voice in my head—the one that said:
“Just be grateful.”
“Don’t ask for too much.”
“Someone else probably deserves it more.”
Sound familiar?
It took even longer to go from a shaky, “Can I really charge that?” To a steady, “Here’s my rate.”
And eventually, I realized I wasn’t just charging for a blog post or a photo—I was charging for years of experience, the trust I’ve built with my audience, and the culture I bring to every project.
This journey hasn’t just been about the money—though yes, getting paid matters.
It’s also been about unlearning the belief that I didn’t deserve it.
So, amiga, if you needed a little nudge today, here it is:
You’re allowed to grow.
You’re allowed to charge.
You’re allowed to take up space.
And know that I’m over here, cafecito in hand, cheering you on every step of the way.
I really needed this encouragement now! :)
Hi Yvette! Thank you for letting us know. I think I did notice the pages didn't match but it didn't stop me from flipping through all the pages and finding MORE recipes to try! It was actually a good thing!