Welcome! Thanks for stopping by! I’m Lisa, the cook, writer, photographer and executive dishwasher behind Garlic & Zest and I’ve been cooking since I was a kid. Growing up, I was always in the kitchen… helping my Mom prep dinner — and sometimes making it myself. My kid brother and I would make sweets when there were none in the house (huckleberry Bisquick pie, anyone?) I loved experimenting with recipes and ingredients. Some turned out great, others not so much. It didn’t matter. I loved cooking.
I come from a diverse food background. My Dad’s side of the family embraces their Southern coastal roots by highlighting dishes like country ham, soft shell crabs, oyster stew, biscuits and peach pie My Mom’s side had their own traditions — French food like roasted leg of lamb and Grand Marnier soufflé as well as homestyle Caribbean fare in the form of spicy curries, blood sausage and Rhum Agricole . With all of this in the mix, it’s no wonder I’ve struggled to identify my “style” of cooking.
I usually focus on fresh, healthy fare, but my piousness sometimes loses out to my husband’s cravings for all things “pig” and my daughter’s predilection for carbohydrates. Like many people, I’m busy with life’s daily demands, so most of my recipes will have an active prep time of 30-45 minutes. Sometimes more, but often – less. And while I appreciate the effort it takes to do everything from scratch, I’m not opposed to using a ready-made pie crust, in a pinch.
Many of the recipes you’ll find here are my own or were handed down through the family. However, some may be inspired by or adapted from a cookbook, magazine article or website. If that’s the case, I’ll source the original recipe and author and will provide a link back to it, if it’s available. All the posts and recipes here are written by yours truly.
I simply couldn’t do this without the continued support of my family. Let me introduce you.
This is Scott, my husband, best friend, grill-master and taste-tester. Most of the grilling and barbecue recipes are actually done by him — because he doesn’t want me getting too comfortable with “his” grill.
This is Emily, my sometimes-here daughter who attends a university far enough away that we don’t just “pop-in” unannounced. Emily helps with lighting and props when she’s around and is constantly giving me advice on what to feature next.
Mom – aka “Mimi”
My Dad also known as Pop
And these are my parents who have recently retired to the Florida Keys. Yeah, life sucks for them. We impose ourselves on their hospitality as often as we can.
On behalf of myself and the whole fam-bam, we’re glad you’re here. If you like what you see, add your name to the subscriber list. I’ll be sure to send you the latest recipes!
If you have a comment or question about a recipe, it’s best to leave it on that specific recipe page. If you have a question not related to a recipe, you can comment here, or send an e-mail to lisa@garlicandzest.com.
