Emmie Hayes

Who or what inspires you to cook?

My mom is definitely my biggest inspiration. She was a wonderful cook and she made it from her heart. Family dinner was every Wednesday & you had better be there. She would work all day and come home and make dinner for our entire family 15 people. Her specialty was Southern comfort foods. I still use her recipes. One of my favorite things to do is to entertain & have dinner parties, cocktail parties, girls night anytime I get to cook. I’m happiest in my kitchen feeding my friends

What's your all time favorite dish to make?

It’s so hard to pick just one. But I love to make my mom‘s squash casserole, which is unbelievable but also I love to make chicken Marango also one of my mom‘s recipes. But I am best known for my cheese balls. I have had people ask me to make them for them to take to parties. But I also love to make soups. I have various types that I make.Potato corn chowder is my favorite. But I also like to make chicken tortilla soup.

What would you do with the $25,000?

That is a hard question. I would put it towards helping My family have a better life. Possibly start my own catering business. That has been something I have dreamt of for years. I would also love to go to Paris and eat my way through the city L O L.