BEGIN TYPING YOUR SEARCH ABOVE AND PRESS RETURN TO SEARCH. PRESS ESC TO CANCEL

What’s for dinner?

When I got married nearly 30 years ago (geez, where did the time go?), I only knew how to cook one thing — quiche. Since then, I’ve worked hard, I’ve asked questions, I’ve experimented and now, I’d say I’m a pretty good cook. It didn’t come overnight and it certainly didn’t come without some big misses along the way. But those are fun too.

About 10 years ago, on a dare from my husband, I took my modified version of a family recipe for apple pie and turned it into my own little business — Mary Beth’s Apple Pie Company.

This we my company's first logo.
This was my company’s first logo.

Soon, what started as a little neighborhood business took me to QVC (where I sold more than 3,000 pies!) and Williams Sonoma. What an adventure it was — one that taught me so much about business, problem-solving, perseverance and more!  I’m no longer making pies as a business, but I still love to bake them … and who knows, maybe one day I’ll be back in business.

Later I switched to a pin-up girl look, which I still love.
Later I switched to a pin-up girl look, which I still love.

Today, I love to find new recipes, bake for my family and entertain my friends. I’m constantly in search of new and exciting dishes, and I have a few tried and true favorites too. Most recently, after watching Forks Over Knives, I’ve been experimenting with vegetarian and vegan cooking. It’s a new, exciting challenge that has opened up a whole new world in the kitchen.

What’s your specialty in the kitchen?

0 Comments

  1. My pet peeve is wasting food. My kids have always HATED leftovers….so my specialty is turning leftovers into a new dish that they do not recognize as leftovers. My Cuisinart is my best friend. I can turn leftover roast into amazing tacos, burritos, etc. way better than ground beef. Shhhhh. don’t tell them my secret…..

  2. I remember when you made those thousands of decorative dough leaves for the Williams Sonoma minis. Still makes me go, wuh?! So my specialty in the kitchen is pretty sad. I just don’t have a natural propensity for cooking, and when I screw it up, I take it badly and end up with this terrible attitude. I do love my cheesecake and am very proud of that! But cooking? Food? Oy vey. Always a struggle. I make five things over and over. Pan-fried chicken (lightly breaded in an oatmeal-based breading), rosemary chicken, Chili, meatloaf, and baked spaghetti. All of those are fantastic, but other than random omelets and pasta, that is literally it. I caught a steak on fire in my oven last fall. BUT, I’m really making a very big effort this year to stretch beyond my comfort zone (combining two of your blog concepts, here!) and do more with new recipes, especially if they scare me. So, with that in mind, I’m looking very forward to your culinary posts. I mean, you went from quiche to QVC. That’s something!

Leave a comment