Welcome to my kitchen—where the counters are perpetually dusted with flour, the cat is probably stealing cheese, and the air smells like garlic butter and nostalgia. I’m Lora Bennett (née Thompson), a self-taught chef, accidental comedian, and full-time mom who believes that the best meals aren’t about perfection, but about the mess, the laughter, and the stories they carry.
My Roots: A Tale of Two Kitchens
I was born in Denver, Colorado, but my heart lives in two places: my dad’s Irish-American kitchen (think soda bread so dense it could double as a doorstop) and my Creole grandma’s Louisiana cottage, where gumbo simmered for hours and every dish came with a side of sass. Summers down South taught me that food is love—spicy, unapologetic, and best shared at a crowded table.
Now, I’m raising my own little foodie tribe in Boulder, Colorado, in a house that’s equal parts cozy and chaotic. You’ll find:
- An herb garden where the thyme grows faster than I can use it (thanks, Colorado sun).
- A chalkboard wall covered in my 6-year-old daughter Sophie’s doodles of “fancy” carrots.
- A framed flour handprint from Sophie’s first baking attempt—a relic I’ll cherish longer than my stand mixer.
Speaking of family, meet my crew:
- Daniel, my high school history teacher husband who can grill a steak like a pro but somehow incinerates toast. We met when he kept showing up at my bakery every Thursday for cinnamon rolls. (Spoiler: He married me for the pastry. I married him because he laughs at my terrible oven-related puns.)
- Sophie, my tiny sous-chef who cracks eggs with the precision of a Michelin chef and decorates cookies like a modern-day Picasso.
- Miso, our thieving orange tabby who’s been known to photoblog a recipe or two (usually while licking butter).
- Kiwi, the sassy green parrot who mimics our oven timer and once stole a macaron mid-bite—a crime caught on camera and now immortalized in my Instagram highlights.
How I Cook: Comfort Food with a Twist
My style? Imagine if Southern comfort food, Mediterranean flavors, and Asian spices had a party in your mouth. I’m all about:
- Elevating simple ingredients: Brown butter makes everything better. Smoked paprika is my fairy dust. Fresh herbs? Non-negotiable.
- Signature dishes like my Bourbon Peach Cobbler (a family heirloom, best served with a side of drama), One-Pot Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta (because who has time for dishes?), and Jalapeño Cornbread (which once bartered me bison meat from a rancher—true story).
I’m self-taught, with a sprinkle of Parisian pastry classes from my honeymoon (where I learned that croissants are 80% butter and 100% worth it). My kitchen philosophy? “Messy counters = happy memories.” Life’s too short for fussy plating—pass the mismatched plates and dig in.
My Quirks (Because We All Have Them)
- Voice: Think of me as your kitchen confidante—the friend who’ll tell you to “salt your dang food” while handing you a glass of wine.
- Pet peeves: Unseasoned food (“Salt is not the enemy, Karen!”) and recipes that require 20 obscure spices. (Who has sumac just lying around? Not me.)
- Guilty pleasures: Midnight PB&J with extra crunchy peanut butter, and baking competition shows I pretend not to binge while folding laundry.
- Rituals: Singing jazz off-key (Sophie’s verdict: “Mom, no”), knocking on the oven door for luck, and tasting everything with my tiny silver spoon—a gift from Grandma that’s seen more batter than a bakery.
Strong Opinions™:
- Avocados: “Buy them rock-hard and ripen them in a paper bag. No microwave hacks.“
- Pineapple on pizza: “Team Sweet-and-Savory forever. Fight me.“
A Day in My Life
- Mornings: Start with thyme-infused honey tea (from my garden) and eggs cracked by Sophie (“6-year-olds are weirdly good at it”).
- Meal planning: Leftover Remix Mondays (Sunday’s roast chicken becomes tacos, then soup) and Takeout Fakeout Fridays (DIY sesame cauliflower > greasy takeout).
- Hobbies: Gardening (heirloom tomatoes = my pride), thrifting vintage plates (no two alike), and hiking with family—picnics mandatory, “squished” sandwiches encouraged.
Why I’m Here
I started blogging to help busy parents (or anyone who’s ever burned rice) cook flavorful, low-stress meals. Every recipe comes with:
- A “Mom Tip” (e.g., “Freeze cookie dough in pre-portioned balls for emergency cravings”).
- A kitchen fail confession (“This took 3 tries—don’t be like me”).
- A story, because food is memory. (Like the time my first date with Daniel involved failed sushi and ended with pizza.)
Come Hang Out
Whether you’re here for the food hacks, the family chaos, or just to see what Kiwi the parrot steals next, pull up a chair. My kitchen’s always open, the coffee’s strong, and the toast is probably burnt—but hey, that’s what jam’s for.
Let’s cook something delicious,
Lora
P.S. Want my Bourbon Peach Cobbler recipe? It’s coming. But first, I have to rescue my cheese from Miso.