What is your background? Have you always been interested in food?
I’ve always been a fan of food. My mother tells me as an 8-month-old baby I wasn’t interested in baby food – only their Chinese take-out! I was also always encouraged as a child to experiment in the kitchen; my mother and father were good cooks, and they let me tinker with ingredients, create my own salad dressing, etc. My real passion for cooking didn’t kick in until I was an adult though. I was writing for television and I’d be sitting in the writer’s room thinking about cooking a new dish I saw on The Food Network. I knew then, it was time for a change.
What made you start Ma, What’s 4 Dinner?
I became so frustrated that my kids weren’t sharing my enthusiasm for food. I’d spend an hour in the kitchen cooking for them and an hour trying to convince them to try it. I decided I was done cooking two different meals every night! So, instead of plopping them in front of the TV while cooking I decided to involve them in the process. They came with me to the store, we made meal decisions together, they stripped the corn, pounded the pizza dough and it magically made a world of difference! They are excited about trying/learning new things and they’re eating food that isn’t just beige. We’re not limited to chicken nuggets, pasta with butter and goldfish anymore!
Where do your best ideas/recipes come from? When you are feeling a little “stuck” what helps you get back to being creative?
We all get stuck when it comes to meal ideas. It makes me appreciate my own mother who suffered though years and years of “We’re having that again?” When I’m not feeling very inspired I go back to old fashioned classics and put a spin on them. What can I do to make meatloaf more exciting or how can I make shepherd’s pie appealing to a kid? Sometimes I’ll break out a cookbook and open to a random page. It’s amazing how seeing delicious food can inspire you to get cooking!
What are your top 5 tools or ingredients?
I love things that make your life easier. Busy moms need all the help they can get! The crock pot/slow cooker has to be one of the greatest inventions of all time. There’s nothing better for a busy family than the ability to throw ingredients into a pot before you head out and to come home to dinner.
I also love my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer and my Cuisinart Food Processor. They both make cooking so much easier and kids love them because they can press buttons and watch things come together right before their eyes.
Ground beef and turkey is a big “go to” around here. It’s affordable and you can make a million different things with them. Not to mention, the kids gobble it up. I don’t think I make anything that doesn’t start out with olive oil and garlic. They just make everything better.
What is your favorite thing to cook or bake?
I love the smell of roast turkey in the oven. It just says home and family to me and makes me feel warm and happy. Turkey night is a big deal around here and everyone comes over for it. My recipe for roast turkey is easy and delicious! It doesn’t matter the time of year we’re always making turkey around here. And then you get to take advantage of all the leftovers!
Your favorite shops/online destinations for supplies or food?
I love specialty food shops with interesting cheeses, meats, pates, etc. I love to take the boys to one near us called the Fairfield Cheese Company. They’re so great and really encourage the boys to try new things. Whole Food and Trader Joes are wonderful for their fresh and interesting ingredients. As far as cookware I love Sur La Table! They have everything you could possibly need along with fun and whimsical items that the boys really love.
What is your most favorite recipe and why?
I make a healthy/lighter/quicker version of beef stroganoff with ground chicken. It’s called Kickin’ Chicken Stroganoff. It’s a favorite because my kids and husband love it and it’s quick and easy to whip up. So many people have told me that it was the first meal they’d made for their picky eaters that they actually ate. I tear up when I hear that that because I know how hard it can be.
Other than yours, whose recipes or food tips do you love?
When I first started getting adventurous in the kitchen it was because of 30 Minutes Meals and Rachael Ray. Her food was easy to make and super quick. A busy mom’s dream! And Martha…who doesn’t love Martha Stewart? She has a plan for everything and I love her tips. I also love America’s Test Kitchen since they do so much of the legwork for you and tell you the best way to accomplish a dish. It’s so helpful. I’m also inspired by all the mommy bloggers out there like Julie from Mommie Cooks, Shell from Things I Can’t Say, and Holly from 504 Main. These are women who are in the trenches just like us, figuring it out, and doing the best they can for their kids. They are full of useful ideas and inspiration, enough to brighten up your toughest day.
