I reside in Sophia, West Virginia. Sophia only has a population of 1,301. Sophia may be small, but more importantly it's a nice quiet town where people come together as a community.
What is your favorite holiday to cook for?
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love to cook on Thanksgiving because it brings families and friends together to share a meal and to consider all that we have to be thankful for in our lives. I love the savory aromas that Thanksgiving brings to my kitchen. The turkey and dressing roasting in the oven, my husband’s famous pumpkin pie baking, and the smell of cinnamon from the carrot soufflé.
What kitchen utensil you can't live without?
I can't live without my mini food chopper. Anything that needs to be diced can be put into the mini chopper and it saves me a lot of time. It's great for garlic, onions, carrots, and anything that needs to be finely diced.
What is your favorite meal of the day?
Dinner is my favorite meal. I've devoted dinner time to family time. I like making dinner with my family and deciding on the menu with them. I enjoy eating with them and talking to them without feeling rushed.
Who is your favorite celebrity chef?
Paula Deen is my favorite celebrity chef. She is an American cook, restaurateur, author, actress, and Emmy Award-winning television personality. I feel a connection with Paula Deen when it comes to cooking. We both love Southern cooking and spending time with family.
What ingredient do you use the most?
Garlic is the ingredient I use most. Garlic is a wonderful addition to any food. You can use it fresh, raw, cooked, minced, sliced, roasted, chopped, pressed, etc.
What is your favorite cookbook?
I really don't have a favorite cookbook. I have many signature dishes from different cookbooks. I love exploring different cookbooks and selecting a few recipes from each one to try.
What are you looking forward to most at the finals?
Competing and having fun! Also, very much looking forward to meeting all the wonderful people behind Manischewitz and the great chef Jacques Pepin.
What would winning mean to you?
It would mean everything to me. It would give me the drive to continue to move forward and reach for more successes in the cooking field.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
Cooking is a hobby I picked up at a time we struggled financially. Until that time I had spent very little time in the kitchen. Now it's my favorite place to be, preparing meals for my family.