Meet Anna

 

Hi there! I’m Anna Carter, and if you had told 18-year-old me that one day I’d be teaching people how to fall in love with cooking, I probably would’ve laughed and burnt my grilled cheese while doing it. I’m 39 now, living just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, surrounded by mountains, farmers’ markets, and a small but lively kitchen where all the magic (and sometimes mild disasters) happen.

I didn’t go to culinary school. In fact, I majored in environmental science and worked a desk job for years. But somewhere in that fluorescent-lit office, I started daydreaming about Sunday pot roasts, the smell of fresh herbs, and the way my grandmother used to hum while stirring her chicken and dumplings. One evening, on a whim, I tried making her recipe. It was a mess—the dough was too thick, the chicken overcooked—but the feeling it gave me? That was gold.

That night lit a spark. I began cooking every evening after work, starting with simple dishes like scrambled eggs with fresh chives or roasted sweet potatoes with olive oil and salt. I watched countless YouTube videos, asked old family friends for their recipes, and embraced the flops right along with the triumphs. I still remember the first time my biscuits rose properly; I actually called my dad and cried a little.

Now, I spend my days helping folks who feel just as intimidated by the kitchen as I once did. I believe cooking should be joyful, forgiving, and absolutely un-snobby. If you can boil water, you can make something beautiful. My approach is all about starting small, building confidence, and having a good laugh when things don’t go as planned (because trust me, they won’t sometimes—and that’s okay).

Food doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. It just has to be yours. So whether you’re trying to impress a date, feed a hungry kid, or simply nourish yourself with something made by your own hands, I’m here to cheer you on. Let’s burn a few grilled cheeses together and discover the magic hiding in your kitchen.