Last Updated: October 18, 2025
Welcome to Gentle Recipes! I’m committed to protecting your privacy while you explore recipes and cooking tips on this site. This policy explains what information I collect, how I use it, and your rights regarding your personal data.
Who We Are
Gentle Recipes is a personal food blog dedicated to sharing recipes that make home cooking approachable and enjoyable. Our website address is: https://gentlerecipes.com. If you have questions about this privacy policy, you can reach me at contact@gentlerecipes.com or through the contact page at https://gentlerecipes.com/contact.
Information I Collect
Information You Provide Directly
When you interact with Gentle Recipes, you might share information with me in the following ways:
Contact Forms: If you reach out through the contact page, I collect your name, email address, and whatever message you choose to send. I use this information solely to respond to your inquiry and won’t share it with anyone else.
Comments (if enabled): When you leave a comment on a recipe, you’ll provide your name and email address. Your name and comment will be visible to other visitors, but your email address remains private and is only used to notify you of replies if you’ve opted in for notifications.
Newsletter Subscriptions (if applicable): If you sign up to receive recipe updates or newsletters, I’ll collect your email address and use it only to send you the content you’ve requested. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in every email.
Information Collected Automatically
Like most websites, Gentle Recipes automatically collects certain technical information when you visit:
Log Data: My web hosting provider records standard information such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages you view, and the dates/times of your visits. This helps me understand how visitors use the site and identify any technical issues.
Cookies: Gentle Recipes uses cookies—small text files stored on your device—to improve your browsing experience. These might include:
- Essential cookies that remember your preferences (like whether you’ve accepted this privacy notice)
- Analytics cookies that help me understand which recipes are most popular and how visitors navigate the site
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings, though some features of the site may not work as smoothly without them.
How I Use Your Information
I use the information I collect for these purposes:
- To respond to your questions and comments when you contact me
- To send recipe updates and newsletters if you’ve subscribed (and only if you’ve subscribed)
- To improve the website by understanding which recipes resonate with visitors and where I can make the site better
- To maintain site security and prevent spam or misuse
- To comply with legal obligations if required by law
I will never sell your personal information to third parties. Your trust matters more to me than any potential profit from selling email lists or contact data.
Third-Party Services
To keep Gentle Recipes running smoothly and understand how it’s being used, I work with a few trusted service providers:
Web Hosting: The site is hosted by a web hosting provider that stores website files and data. They have access to server information but are bound by their own privacy policies to protect your data.
Analytics: I use website analytics tools (such as Google Analytics or similar services) to understand visitor behavior in aggregate—things like how many people visit, which recipes are popular, and how long people spend on the site. These tools may use cookies and collect IP addresses, but the data is anonymized and helps me make the site better for everyone.
Email Services (if applicable): If you subscribe to a newsletter, I use an email service provider to manage subscriptions and send emails. They have access to subscriber email addresses but only use them to deliver the emails you’ve requested.
Social Media Embeds: Recipe pages might include embedded content from YouTube (for cooking videos), Pinterest, or Instagram. When you interact with these embeds, those platforms may collect information according to their own privacy policies.
These third-party services have their own privacy policies, and I encourage you to review them. I only work with services that respect user privacy and comply with applicable data protection laws.
Data Retention
I keep your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy:
- Contact form submissions are kept for up to 2 years to maintain a record of our correspondence
- Comments remain on the site unless you request deletion
- Newsletter subscriber data is retained until you unsubscribe
- Analytics data is typically retained for 26 months in aggregate form
If you’d like me to delete your personal information, please contact me at contact@gentlerecipes.com.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:
Access: You can request a copy of the personal data I hold about you.
Correction: If any information I have is inaccurate or incomplete, you can ask me to correct it.
Deletion: You can request that I delete your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions.
Opt-Out: You can unsubscribe from email communications at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email, or by contacting me directly.
Data Portability: You can request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used format.
To exercise any of these rights, please email me at contact@gentlerecipes.com. I’ll respond to your request within 30 days.
Children’s Privacy
Gentle Recipes is intended for a general audience and is not directed at children under 13. I do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you’re a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided me with personal information, please contact me at contact@gentlerecipes.com, and I’ll promptly delete it.
California Residents (CCPA)
If you’re a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
- The right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
- The right to delete personal information
- The right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (note: I do not sell personal information)
- The right to non-discrimination for exercising your CCPA rights
To make a request under the CCPA, contact me at contact@gentlerecipes.com with “CCPA Request” in the subject line.
European Residents (GDPR)
If you’re located in the European Economic Area (EEA), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) gives you specific rights regarding your personal data. The legal bases for processing your information include:
- Consent: When you’ve given clear consent for me to process your personal data for a specific purpose (like subscribing to a newsletter)
- Legitimate interests: When processing is necessary for my legitimate interests in operating and improving the website, provided those interests don’t override your rights
You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe your data has been mishandled.
Security
I take reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. This includes using secure hosting, SSL encryption for data transmission, and limiting access to personal data to only what’s necessary. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and I cannot guarantee absolute security.
External Links
Gentle Recipes may contain links to other websites—perhaps to specialty ingredient suppliers, kitchen equipment I recommend, or other helpful cooking resources. I’m not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. When you click on an external link, I encourage you to read that site’s privacy policy.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
As Gentle Recipes grows and evolves, I may need to update this privacy policy. If I make significant changes, I’ll post a notice on the website homepage and update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. I encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how I’m protecting your information.
Contact Me
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or how your personal information is handled, I’d love to hear from you:
Email: contact@gentlerecipes.com
Contact Page: https://gentlerecipes.com/contact
Thank you for trusting Gentle Recipes with your time and attention. Happy cooking!
