I am a software developer from Springfield, Mo. A wife, mother of two, and first-time grandma. This site was inspired by my experiences raising a family.
Sometimes it's hard to budget for quality meals.
Sometimes there is no time or energy to get dinner on the table.
Sometimes there is an opportunity to spoil yourself and those you love.
It is my hope to encourage you in whatever phase of life you may be in—that you can keep growing, keep thriving, and keep creating.
From our kitchen to yours, thank you for being here.
How I Learned to Cook
As a kid, I loved spending time in the kitchen with my mother and grandmothers. My mom taught me basics, like how to make a white sauce and how to read a recipe. My dad was like me and would walk into the kitchen and make something up with whatever was on hand. In high school I would cook for my family a few times a week.
My Grandpa Crouch had a huge garden that took up most of their backyard. My grandma would cook and can from that garden. My favorite was picking blackberries for a dessert. I can't tell you exactly how many of the plump juicy berries actually made it into the house, but enough she could make something delicious.
My Grandad Veazey was a Southern Baptist preacher. Grandma Veazey was always finding recipes for quick treats or snacks for bible studies. She also taught me some of the tricks from the greatest generation for stretching a dollar. My grandparents had all lived through the great depression and then the rations from WW II.
When I got married and left home I decided I did not need recipes. They were for amateurs and lacked creativity. I thought I knew what I was doing. My poor husband had to suffer through a few of my fiascos caused by pride. Although he was usually honest, he always thanked me.
Finally I realized I had to learn before I could get quite as "creative".
When I had kids of my own, my favorite part of dinner was in the kitchen cooking together. That kind of activity leads to better conversations and lessons not only about cooking, but whatever might come up when one's hands are busy and can speak more freely.
I am very thankful that they took it to heart and now are able to cook good and healthy meals for their own families. They started their families with way more cooking skills than I had.
I started this site in hopes to share helpful information with others so that they can expand their own knowledge and skills.
Trusted Resources
Here are some of my trusted resources and why I choose them. These are not sponsored links, just helpful information.
Cookbooks
Don't pick the cookbooks with the most recipes on Amazon. Not all of these are tested and some are not concerned about protecting their brand.
Better Homes and Gardens cookbook has been in publication since 1930. A new version comes out every 3–7 years with new technologies and cooking methods. If you have one, still consider getting an updated one. Just don't throw the old one out, because they do change out recipes.
America's Test Kitchen. Anything that carries this name is a good find. Not only are their recipes well tested, they also teach a lot of reasons for why they are using a food or technique. They currently have 250 cookbooks in publication with more than 2,000 recipes.
Fix It & Forget It. Author Phyllis Pellman Good wrote the crockpot series. A newer version by Hope Comerford has instant pot recipes.
Any celebrity chef will have a good cookbook as they want to protect their name and brand.
Magazines
Yes, I still love magazines that I can hold in my hand and flip around in.
Cooks Illustrated is released every 2 months. This is an America's Test Kitchen publication. It has trusted recipes and the authors will walk you through how they decided what to use. This magazine also includes helpful information on new equipment, cooking techniques for uses for a specific ingredient.
AllRecipes is released every 2 months. Yes, like the website. This magazine comes with a good variety of recipes for everyday life. Recipe selection is based on user rated favorites on their site. There are between 50–100 recipes per magazine.
Websites
Allrecipes. Recipes have all been reviewed for originality and completeness. If it has "kitchen approved" status it has been tested by culinary professionals.
Love & Lemons created by Jeanine Donofrio and launched in 2011, this site has always been reliable and unique. The focus is on healthy cooking with seasonal ingredients.
Simply Recipes has its own team of editors and recipe developers. This site includes cooking tips and suggested products. It is not pretentious and includes plenty of simple everyday recipes.
Feel free to add other helpful suggestions in the comments below.
