Valerie Phillips of Kaysville writes about food topics for the Deseret News, and blogs at www.chewandchat.blogspot.com. She was the Deseret News food editor from 2000-2010, worked at the Standard-Examiner from 1988-2000, and edited a newsletter in Saudi Arabia, the Dhahran Digest, for three years. Her book, "Dining Through The Decades: Defining Foods of the 20th Century," was published in 2000, and her cookbook is scheduled for release in fall of 2012. She has received awards from the Association of Food Journalists, Society of Professional Journalists, Beehive Chefs Association/American Culinary Federation, the Utah-Idaho Press Association, the William Harvey Award for Heart Health Writing, and Writer's Digest. She has also contributed to Food Network magazine, Baby Talk, Parenting, and Women's Sports & Fitness. She grew up in Rush Valley, Utah, and earned an A.S. degree from Dixie College and a B.S. degree in communication from Utah State University. Her culinary background comes from growing up on a farm; working in a restaurant; four years of international travel; numerous seminars including Johnson & Wales University, America's Test Kitchen, the Kansas City Barbeque Society; and many years of home cooking for a family of six. She judges many contests, including the MFK Fisher Writing Award, World Championship Dutch Oven Cook-Off, International Chocolate Salon, Taste TV Awards, the Utah State Fair and, her favorite, Riverview Jr. High's annual Dutch Oven Cooking Competition.