I’m Penny

“I belive that the very first ingredient in a every recipe should always be love.”

I’ve had a passion for cooking since I was about 8 years old.
I remember making dinner for my young brothers and sisters and loving it. It was never a chore.

I’ve been a professional photographer for over 19 years and often people ask what I would do if I wasn’t a photographer … I always say probably something with food. Cooking has always been a creative outlet for me.

 

I grew up around people who loved food, my father was a fisherman and hunter. Many a meal we had he caught. My Dad (I’m fortunate to have an extended family) LOVED photography and food – imagine how cool I thought he was when I was young. He has always been not only my rad dad, but also my friend.

My father’s mother and father loved to cook, and having grown up from the depression era they could make anything good. Except for beets! I hate beets and have a funny story about that from when I was probably 8 and my grandmother insisted I try them – quick
ending – I still won’t touch them to this day. I have so many fond memories of helping out in their tiny kitchen, going into the canning closet was like going to the grocery store, and learning how to make my grandfather’s chicken noodle soup is a memory that I’ll never forget. They actually had a wood-burning stove
they cooked on – like a real range that you put logs in!!

My mother could make something from nothing and always taught us that family can be brought together with food. We were not allowed to miss Sunday dinner at home, but we could invite anyone we wanted to the table to join us.

I should also share that I married well, Tony makes dinner almost every night since we’ve been married. We’ve been married over 23 years.

It is for the love of food, family, dear friends (especially Paulette) that I am bringing this dream to fruition. One of the last things Paulette said to me before she passed was “I know you’ll make me proud.”

I hope you join me on this great adventure.