Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
Thrifty, creative, and sustainable. I minimize kitchen waste and maximize bold flavors to prove great food doesn't cost the earth.
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Receive Text UpdatesMelting potatoes! When I got my cast iron skillet, my adult son challenged me: "We are not cast iron cooks." I AM NOW! From stovetop to oven to grill, I've mastered making anything in that pan. These potatoes are crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and proof that simple ingredients can be pure luxury.
Who is your culinary inspiration?Jacques Pépin and Geoffrey Zakarian are my culinary guides. Pépin taught me the value of flawless technique and a thrifty, zero-waste kitchen where every ingredient is respected. Zakarian inspires me to take those simple, everyday ingredients and elevate them into something sophisticated. They prove that great cooking isn't about luxury—it's about skill, passion, and flavor.
What would you do with the $25,000?I would split the prize between my passion for baking and my family. I’d buy a top-tier stand mixer to bake bread for my church community. The majority of the $25,000 would be gifted to my adult children to help pay down their college debt, giving them a well-deserved head start.
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