Hi there — I’m Riley Mae, and if you’ve ever tried to whip up a meal while wrangling a toddler, answering the door, and wondering if you remembered to defrost the chicken… then trust me, we’re already friends.

I’m 38 years old and I live in a small, sun-drenched town just outside Asheville, North Carolina, with my husband, two kids, and a wildly overconfident cat named Biscuit. My kitchen is rarely spotless, my recipes aren’t always photogenic, and yes, I’ve burned the toast more times than I’ll admit. But cooking? Cooking has always felt like home.

My love for food began the way many American food stories do — barefoot on a wooden stool in my grandma’s kitchen, watching her turn simple ingredients into magic. She didn’t follow recipes. She followed instincts, seasons, and stories passed down from memory. That’s where I learned that food wasn’t just something you made — it was something you shared.

I didn’t go to culinary school. I didn’t work under a famous chef or open a trendy pop-up. I worked at a tiny bakery during college, taught myself the rest, and failed forward — through flat cakes, dry chickens, and the occasional small kitchen fire (don’t broil bacon on foil, y’all). What I do have is 20 years of figuring out how to make real food taste amazing, even on a tight budget and a tighter schedule.

The recipes I share here are tested in the real world — the kind with picky eaters, last-minute grocery substitutions, and zero time for complicated instructions. Most of what I cook uses 5 ingredients or fewer, and if it can be made in a microwave or on a sheet pan, I’m already in love with it.

This blog is my kitchen table — a place where I share what works, laugh about what doesn’t, and help home cooks feel just a little more confident every time they tie on an apron. You don’t need fancy knives, a Pinterest-worthy pantry, or a decade of experience. You just need a little curiosity, a pinch of patience, and maybe a love for melted cheese.

So whether you’re making your very first baked mac and cheese, or you’re a seasoned cook looking for new ways to simplify dinner, I’m so glad you’re here. Pull up a chair, grab a wooden spoon, and let’s make something honest and delicious — together.

— Riley Mae 🤍