Natalie Mortimer

Natalie Mortimer is a recipe developer and author who lives in Vancouver, WA with her husband and three kids. Her love for food can be traced directly to her Polish Catholic Grandma and the beautiful dishes she brought to the table at every family celebration.

After years of professional soul-searching, Natalie found her footing in 2013 when she and her longtime friend Holly Erickson launched The Modern Proper, a recipe website dedicated to creating approachable, flavorful meals for the home cook. With no formal culinary training, they set out to answer the question they heard everyone asking: What’s for dinner?

Every recipe shared on The Modern Proper is developed in their own home kitchens and tested on their friends and families, real food for real life. Their honest, unfussy approach to cooking resonated, growing a loyal following and culminating in the release of their bestselling cookbook, The Modern Proper: Simple Recipes for Every Day, in 2022.

With over a decade of professional recipe development under her belt, Natalie continues to bring fresh inspiration to the dinner table, offering thoughtful dietary variations, smart cooking tips, and a bit of culinary education along the way. Her hope is to see more people building confidence in the kitchen in the modern world where time is limited.

When she’s not in the kitchen, you’ll find Natalie traveling, boating, skiing, gardening, running, or curled up with a good book. She’s also known for crafting thoughtful, ingredient-forward menus and hosting cozy, delicious dinners for friends and family at home.

The Modern Proper has not only captivated audiences through viral videos on TikTok and Instagram, but has also earned national attention with appearances on Good Morning America and features in The Source, Jamie Magazine, Domino.com, TheKitchn.com, Taste of Home, and Sur La Table. Along the way, Natalie and Holly have partnered with beloved brands like Staub, Tillamook, Maille, Crockpot, and Sur La Table.

Built on the shared belief that everyone deserves a good meal, Natalie and Holly’s work is rooted in nearly 20 years of friendship, over a decade of brand-building, and more than 1,000 recipes shared. And even now, Natalie feels like they’re just getting started, because there’s always something new to bring to the table.