“I had returned to my roots in Middle Tennessee, my twins were 2-years-old, and I wanted to foster their healthy development through good nutritional choices. I also wanted to foster a closeness for our family, as my parents did, through a shared love of food. My grandparents and great-grandparents were full-time farmers, growing and preserving almost everything they consumed. And I was fortunate to grow up in a home where the family dinner was sacrosanct.
Throughout college, I worked in restaurants, often sneaking into the kitchen to acquire new ideas and skills. However, it wasn’t until my early 20s that my palate fully awakened. As a graphic design intern, I stumbled upon an early issue of Martha Stewart Living with its gorgeous typography and abundance of culinary ideas and was, in short, totally inspired. Design became my profession but food was always an important passion. I became an avid food magazine subscriber and cookbook collector, and I began entertaining as often as possible: trying out new recipes on friends and family, baking pies for neighbors, crafting little bundles of food to leave on doorsteps.