For Dina Deleasa-Gonsar, every recipe is rooted in three pillars—food, family, and faith. They’re the foundation of her debut cookbook and the latest chapter in a career that’s taken her from reality TV to lifestyle media, and now, into publishing.
Viewers first met her on Married to Jonas alongside her sister Danielle, and today she’s a regular presence on Pix 11’s New York Living and even The Today Show. Now, she’s adding ‘author’ to that ever-expanding resume with her debut cookbook, At the Kitchen Sink: Recipes to Fill Your Table, Words to Fill Your Heart—a collection of recipes and devotionals blended to appeal to the human experience.
“What’s unique is that it’s a hybrid,” she explained. “It’s like two books in one.”
The book’s approachable tone speaks to everyday audiences as she draws from her own relatable shortcomings such as staring down a near-empty pantry or transforming breakfast leftovers into a quick, nutrient-packed protein smoothie.
“I thought, ‘How am I really surviving every single week?’ and then I chronicled everything I did.”
That balance shines through in chapters like “Pantry Picks” and “A Mom Minute,” the latter a personal reflection on her postpartum depression and evolving sense of identity.
“I feel like those writings are very impactful and encouraging to others,” she revealed. “The recipes are aimed at re-purposing or creating snacks that help fuel a busy woman/mom.”
Then there’s “Impress Without the Stress,” a recipe list of family favorites that emphasizes gathering without the fuss.
Deleasa-Gonsar wrote the book over the last two years, but the concept sat dormant on her computer for seven.
So how did this mom, wife, and media personality eventually add “cookbook author” to her resume? It was her television debut that unexpectedly set the stage for her culinary voice.
While appearing on Married to Jonas, Deleasa-Gonsar was encouraged to join social media—a move that gave her the perfect platform to share her kitchen musings, or as she calls them, her “obsessions.”
What began as a casual hobby soon grew into Instagram posts that laid the foundation for DishItGirl, her blog, which then snowballed into national TV spots. Today, she hosts the lifestyle show In the Mix on ONNJ. Her cookbook reflects that journey, offering readers a more personal connection beyond the polished lens of social media.
“There’s this mentality online that you’re falling behind everyone and you’re not good enough,” she said. “I want to let people know that they’re doing a good job and that they’re worth more than they realize.”
Her food, family, and faith approach to life is rooted in inspiration from her parents and grandmother, cherishing the memories created around the table.
“I love that I have a piece of my family in print and out there forever."
That sense of legacy carries into her cookbook, where simplicity takes center stage—right down to her belief that a kitchen garden is the ultimate game-changer.
Though gardening is trial and error, she finds the reward—and the mother-daughter bonding with eight-year-old Siena—well worth it.
“It’s something Siena and I can do together,” she added. “It’s also nice to cook what you grow.”
Siena, already a budding sous chef, helps with dinner, joins her mom at events, and even contributed artwork to the book. Keeping it in the family, Deleasa-Gonsar’s husband, Brian, recently released his own book, The Dracula Brunch Club, which debuted in August.
For Deleasa-Gonsar, every chapter in life circles back to family. Whether it’s a cozy night at home or a new recipe in the works, she sees the kitchen as the heart of connection. Her story proves that the true measure of a recipe isn’t just taste—it’s the people and moments it brings together.