Creating My Digital Recipe Book

I’m currently six weeks into my strategic communications writing class with Lois Boynton , where we were tasked with creating a blog about anything our hearts desired. As a full-time master’s student and student basketball manager, my schedule is packed. As if I needed another thing to add to my plate this semester (pun fully intended), I decided to use this opportunity to learn how to cook and, more importantly, to slow down and spend quality time with my people. And that’s how Friends2Fork was born!

Friends2Fork is my digital recipe book documenting my journey of learning to cook from friends and family members. Growing up, the question in my family was never “What do you want to eat for dinner?”—it was always “Where do you want to eat for dinner?” We were always on the go, rarely making meals at home (and, yes, Chick-fil-A three times a day was a common occurrence). While there are some amazing cooks in my family, I never took the time to learn from them—until this year!

Now that I’ve learned four new recipes, I wanted to reflect on this experience and share four lessons I’ve picked up along the way:

1. Sometimes the hardest part of a task is just getting started.

Grocery shopping is often the hardest part of cooking. Cooking might seem intimidating, but the real challenge often starts at the grocery store! For my first blog post, I learned how to make spaghetti sauce from scratch with my fellow classmate, Tess McCarthy . Finding all the ingredients took some time, but once I had everything in my cart, I felt a sense of accomplishment. After that, the cooking process was a breeze. So, if you can survive the grocery store maze, you've already won the first battle!

2. Pay attention to little details.

Baking isn’t like cooking—measurements matter. When I baked homemade brownies with Maria Rosabal , I quickly realized baking is a science. As we dove into Maria’s family recipe and chatted about our first few weeks of class, I started to just “eyeball it,” loosely scooping flour and sugar. Channeling her mom's energy, Maria hit pause and reminded me that one too many shakes of salt or a splash too much vanilla can throw off an entire recipe. Thanks to her (and her mom’s tips from Costa Rica), I now understand the importance of measuring ingredients precisely when baking!

3. Indulge in what brings you joy.

Southern recipes mean one thing: a whole lotta butter. During a visit with my grandparents, I learned to make my Mimi's signature Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole. If there’s one thing that defines Southern cooking, it’s the generous use of butter. As Mimi joked, “It’s great for the heart!” We didn’t hold back on the butter, and that’s what made the dish so rich and flavorful. This was a comforting reminder that, sometimes, a little indulgence is what makes a home-cooked meal so delicious.

4. Preparation is key.

It’s all about the marinade. In my latest post, I talk about becoming a grill master with my Aunt Karen. As she taught me the simple steps of grilling steak and cooking vegetables, I learned about the power of a good marinade. A great steak shouldn't need much, but as a beginner cook only cooking for one, marinating your steak is the key to success.

Each recipe I’ve learned has taught me more than just cooking techniques. This journey has been a reminder that the little things matter, and it’s important to slow down and savor moments with loved ones. Follow along and enjoy these recipes from From Friends2Fork—I can’t wait to share more with you!