Jill O'Connor Jill O'Connor is a Le Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef with over 25 years experience in food writing and recipe development. She is the author of seven cookbooks and her book Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey: Desserts for the Serious Sweet Tooth was named one of the 25 Best of the Best cookbooks for Food & Wine magazine in 2008. For the last 10 years she has been a monthly contributor to the food page of the San Diego Union Tribune and her work has been published in magazines including Southern Living, Fine Cooking, Food & Wine, and Bon Appetit. About Southern Living Southern Living, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, celebrates the food, homes, places, and culture of the South. We reach 7.2 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists and fact checked for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.