About Me

a 34-year-old self-taught chef from Asheville, North Carolina. Cooking wasn’t always my thing in fact, I started out just trying to survive college with a tight budget and zero kitchen skills. I still remember hovering over a greasy dorm-room stovetop, nervously flipping my first scrambled eggs while praying I wouldn’t set off the fire alarm. That first “real” meal simple eggs and toast wasn’t anything to brag about, but the satisfaction of making it myself? That was something new.

I didn’t go to culinary school or grow up watching my grandmother cook elaborate Sunday feasts. I learned by doing messing up, trying again, and celebrating the small victories. My first attempts at baking were disasters (don’t ask about the time I forgot the sugar in a cake), but each mishap taught me something important. I read cookbooks like novels, watched cooking videos late into the night, and pestered anyone who knew how to sauté an onion properly.

Over the years, my tiny kitchen became my happy place. I discovered that cooking doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. It can be a form of self-care, a way to connect with loved ones, and even a little creative outlet when life feels a bit too routine. I fell in love with making comforting, down-to-earth meals food that hugs you back.

These days, I focus on sharing that same sense of comfort and possibility with others. My goal is to help beginners feel confident and excited in the kitchen. I believe recipes should be friendly, forgiving, and flexible. Whether it’s skillet mac and cheese with a golden breadcrumb topping, slow-cooked pulled pork that makes the house smell like heaven, or fluffy banana pancakes on a sleepy Sunday morning.I’m here to walk you through it.

I now teach workshops, share cooking videos, and write a blog where I offer tips, tricks, and encouragement for anyone just starting out. If I can help someone go from “I can’t cook” to “Look what I made!”, then I know I’ve made a difference.

Cooking has taught me to be patient, to laugh at my mistakes, and to keep experimenting. So if you’re standing in your kitchen feeling overwhelmed, just know that we all start somewhere and it’s okay if that somewhere is a box of pasta and a jar of sauce. What matters is that you showed up, and you’re trying.

So grab your spatula, take a deep breath, and let’s dive in together. You’ve totally got this and I’ll be right here cheering you on.

Join me on this delicious journey at Sweet & Simple Eats!