Meet Sara, The (Supposedly) Worst Cook In The Kitchen

(Editor’s Note: Please let me introduce the amazingly talented (no matter what she says below) Sara B.

Sara joined the team right before COVID started, proving that 2020 isn’t all bad. As a form of therapy, Sara started journaling about her feelings at work, at home, about the world and documenting some of her favorite recipes. She started writing back in August. (This first post is from then in case you feel like some of the timing reads off.) I’m so excited to add these thoughts (and more tasty recipes!) to our blogging mix. And with that, enjoy!)

Here’s me in a nutshell: I grew up learning to cook, enjoying it, but had a love and passion for baking (including cake decorating).  Unfortunately, like too many people I know, I started having a negative relationship with food which put a damper on my cooking.  Then came 2020.

We all know that 2020 is a bat$hit crazy year.  But it was also a year of change for me.  A few years prior, I realized I wanted to get out of companies that cared about profits over people, and I didn’t think I wanted to be in sales at all anymore.  After a brief, but traumatic stint at a non-profit working in development, I realized I had to go completely back to the drawing board.

When I quit my job, I had more time to focus on myself.  I also took on more responsibilities around the house, including making more dinners.  I found myself exploring new recipes and having the time to enjoy the process, instead of rushing to put something on the table after work.  As I worked on myself, I opened up to the possibilities of a less traditional career.  I reached out to an acquaintance of mine who, a few years earlier, had started a meal delivery business.  I came on as a kitchen assistant and delivery driver, part-time.  I had started to line up a second job just as the dreaded COVID hit.

So here I sit, 6 months into a pandemic.  While the financial insecurity isn’t great, I am the happiest I have been in a long time.  Even being the worst cook in the kitchen.

So what does that mean?  And why in the world would you want to read food posts by someone who has told us she is the worst cook in the kitchen?  Honestly, as much as I would love to become one of those people that blogs and gets paid for it, it’s probably not going to happen.  The purpose of this journaling is, well, I suppose there a few of them:

1. I have found passion in food and cooking.  Not everybody has that, and that’s okay!  But if I can share some recipes, whether they are easy, healthy, different, or fun… Great! 
2. I want to share that I am not perfect (not even close) in my passion, but I can still be a part of the kitchen as long as I am willing to keep learning.  
3. I want people to see that you can be real, have failures and flops, and get better because of it.
4. I have always loved helping people.  While I was a decent cook at home, I have learned some great tricks and tips by working in a commercial kitchen.  Why not share the love?

After all this, I still haven’t told you why I am calling this journal the worst cook in the kitchen.  At my job, I am the worst cook in the kitchen.  I ask the most questions, I chop the slowest, and I know the fewest secrets and shortcuts.  But each day I get a little better, even if there are still days I cut a chunk of my finger off.  So here goes…!

Stay tuned and check back soon to hear more from Sara, including her favorite dip recipes.

(P.S. Girlfriend REALLY likes her dips!! Just another reason to love her!)