About Petra

Hi, I'm Petranka Atanasova (in short - Petra), and welcome to my digital kitchen! I am a 25-year-old foodie, certified nutritionist, and professional chef based in Bulgaria. I am the blogger, photographer, and recipe developer behind Sunglow Kitchen.

Here you'll find healthy and flavor-packed recipes that are great for beginners who don't know where to start. They're simple, accessible, and designed to take the stress off cooking.

Whether that's vegan meatloaf, tofu buddha bowl, or overnight oats without yogurt, I hope that my recipes inspire you to cook more at home!

My Background As a Chef

A photo of Petranka, found of Sunglow Kitchen, holding a plate of sun-dried tomato pasta.

In 2016, I got my first job - washing dishes at a wellness cafe. At that time, I was vegan and was interested in everything the chefs were doing, so I asked them to teach me whenever there was a quiet moment in the kitchen.

A few months later, a junior baker position opened, and despite having no experience, I seized the opportunity. I was learning fast and was fascinated by all the ways you can make your favorite desserts without sugar, flour, or butter.

After gaining experience, I was then promoted to Chef, making the lunch and à la carte menu every day and developing new recipes.

While I enjoyed the creative freedom, the long hours and high intensity really started to get to me, and I was completely burned out after just three years in the industry (2017-2020). I was already thinking of starting a food blog where I could share all my favorite recipes, but there was never enough time or energy left over.

In early 2020, the world shut down, leading to me losing my job. Once the shock wore off, I decided it was time to finally build this website that I was talking about for so long.

With the help of my then-partner and graphic designer, Boris, we created this online space with so much love and dedication. Now in 2026, it's my full-time job. I couldn't be more grateful that I get to do this every day and share everything I've learned in the kitchen over the last 10 years. 🥹

Petra, founder of Sunglow Kitchen, taking photos of a recipe using her digital camera.

This is me shooting one of my first recipes in 2020 with an old, second-hand camera that my then-partner gave me. ☝️

I'm also a certified nutritionist after earning my Plant-Based Nutrition Certification through the online program offered by eCornell and The Center for Nutrition Studies at Cornell University.

What You'll Find On Sunglow Kitchen

Easy recipes that anyone can make! Such as Biscoff Overnight Oats, Ravioli Al Pomodoro, and Air Fryer Beyond Burger.
Quick weeknight meals that don't sacrifice flavor. You'll love our Teriyaki Tofu Stir Fry, Easy Tofu Fajitas, and Tagliatelle Pesto Pasta
Classic comfort foods that (sometimes) have a spin on them. Such as Vegan Mac & Cheese without Cashews, Mushroom Lentil Pot Pie, and Curried Mashed Potatoes.
Crowd-pleasing vegan and vegetarian food like these Teriyaki Cauliflower Wings and this Crispy Fried Silken Tofu.
Indulgent desserts like Vegan Churros and Cheesecake without Cream Cheese.

Featured On

My recipes and cooking tips have been featured on Business Insider, HuffPost, Fox News, Tasting Table, The Feedfeed, and syndicated to MSN and Yahoo Life.

Bulgarian National Television also invited me on live to make my 6-Ingredient Chocolate Pudding.

I've spoken on the Eat Blog Talk podcast and The Smart Influencer about Instagram growth and strategy.

More About Petra & The Blog

What recipe do you recommend for someone new to healthy eating?

If you're a complete beginner, start with something super easy like my Vegan Chicken Salad, Garam Masala Curry, or Overnight Oats without Chia Seeds.

Do you have a cookbook?

Nope, but I have a free eBook, which you can get by subscribing to my newsletter. It's filled with my most popular no-chop recipes, which went viral on Instagram.

What's your favorite ingredient to cook with?

It has to be tofu! I have so many tofu recipes on my blog from Vegan Tofu Ham to Deep-Fried Tofu Nuggets to Korean Gochujang Tofu. I love that it can absorb any seasonings or marinades you add to it, and it's also versatile.

Are you vegan/vegetarian?

No, but I LOVE vegetarian food. It's one of the reasons why I started this blog, to help more people eat plants and fiber in an enjoyable way that doesn't sacrifice flavor.