How Cooking Mistakes, Burned Meals, and Starting Over Can Teach You More Than Any Recipe Book

Why are so many people afraid to cook?  It’s easier and more fun, even than you might think.  In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely dig into the big reasons and excuses behind avoiding cooking.  Learn how even the most devout non-cook recently turned her “I don’t cook” mantra into a way to learn about her family history and a new level of confidence. 

From burnt pots and melted pie crusts to Engagement Chicken and freezer chili hacks, Nancy and Sylvia share practical tips and tactics to cut through your own fear of learning—or relearning—how to cook at home.  They also share how it might not just be you, but entire generations, who are challenged by cooking.  Shifting lifestyles, rising food prices, social media pressures, and even Food Network shows have distorted the reality and perception of what it takes to stay healthy, enjoy cooking, and put even a simple hot meal on a plate. 

Whether you’re an empty nester, have a large family, or are inviting friends in for a bit or a snack, there’s an idea for everyone in this next episode of Family Tree Food and Stories, because You Can Cook!

🔍 Key Episode Topics & Takeaways :

• Common cooking fears—why they exist and how to overcome them without expensive tools or culinary school
• Cost myths—why cooking at home is almost always cheaper than fast food or restaurant delivery
• Cooking for one or two—realistic tips for empty nesters, those newly divorced, or anyone living alone
• Why men are cooking more—and what that means for modern households, dating, and engagement chicken
• Cultural shifts—how working parents, youth sports, and Uber Eats rewired how we eat (and why that’s changing again)
• Mistakes that teach—what happens when you confuse baking soda with baking powder or overload your pasta pot
• Creative ways to start small—using canned soup, leftovers, and community cooking clubs as a jumping-off point
• Recipe preservation—how misreading grandma’s handwriting turned into seven cups of sugar instead of one—and why that memory matters

Additional Links ❤️

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Listen on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite listening platform or visit us at: https://podcast.familytreefoodstories.com/

About Your Award-Winning Hosts: Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely are the powerhouse team behind Family Tree, Food & Stories, a member of The Food Stories Media Network, which celebrates the rich traditions and connections everyone has around food, friends, and family meals. Nancy, an award-winning business leader, author, and podcaster, and Sylvia, a visionary author, lawyer, and former CEO, combine their expertise to bring captivating stories rooted in history, heritage, and food. Together, they weave stories that blend history, tradition, and the love of food, where generations connect and share intriguing mealtime stories and kitchen foibles.

"Every Meal Has a Story and Every Story is a Feast." (tm) is a trademark of Family Tree Food & Stories podcast and the hosts.