Hi, I’m Laura the Sarcastic Chef
My Story
I actually wanted to go to culinary school. My high school counselor told me there wasn’t much of a future in that, so I did the practical thing and went to college instead. I earned a degree in business management and marketing, with a minor in psychology.
Turns out, you can take the girl out of the kitchen…but apparently you can’t keep her out for long.
Twenty-three years ago, I discovered Pampered Chef—and if I’m being completely truthful, I
started because I wanted everything in the catalog.
But somewhere along the way, it became about a whole lot more than kitchen gadgets.
Pampered Chef gave me the flexibility to be a stay-at-home mom, care for the people I love,
and still have something that was mine. And through all the different seasons of life, I got to
keep doing something I’ve always loved: cooking for people.
Because for me, food has never just been about getting dinner on the table. It’s about gathering
people, trying something new, laughing when it doesn’t go quite as planned, and making
memories in the process.
Not everyone grew up with a mom or grandma who taught them how to cook—or showed them
that being in the kitchen could actually be fun.
I want to be that person for the people who didn’t.
Life Outside the Kitchen
I’ve been married to Doug for almost 24 years, and we have a 19-year-old son, Carter, plus two
dogs, Natasha and Harley. And yes, they’re named after Natasha Romanoff and Harley Quinn.
We’re certified nerds and not even a little embarrassed about it.
Doug and I actually met while working at Sears. I had been in the Army, he had been in the Navy, and apparently Sears was where our branches of the military finally decided to cooperate.
For our 20th anniversary, we took a Harley-Davidson motorcycle class together. Somehow that turned into me becoming a biker chick, which was a dream come true.
I’m extremely outgoing, I don’t know a stranger, and I’ll pretty much talk to anyone about
anything. I love people, I love hearing their stories, and I’m usually the person who starts a
conversation with someone I’ve never met.
But as much as I love people, my family is at the center of everything.
When my mom was dying, Doug suggested we move her into our home so we could take care
of her. It was one of those moments that made me fall in love with him all over again. After she
passed away, we moved into a bigger house so we could care for my grandma.
Life hasn’t always been easy or gone according to plan, but taking care of the people we love
has always been part of who we are.
That’s love, as far as I’m concerned.
Why “The Sarcastic chef”
Cooking is supposed to be fun. And sometimes that means laughing at the things that go
completely sideways. I’ll show you the kid who leaves exactly one grape in the bag and puts it back in the fridge. The mixer that gets turned on full speed and sends flour flying across the kitchen. The recipe that doesn’t turn out quite like the picture. Because that’s real life—and honestly, it’s usually the funny stuff we remember.
I’m not here to make cooking look perfect. I’m here to make it feel doable. To help you try
something new, learn a few things along the way, and hopefully laugh a little while you’re doing
it. And if I mess something up? You’ll know about it. Around here, real beats perfect every time.
What I Actually Do
Yes, I sell Pampered Chef. But what I really want to be is the person you think of when you have a kitchen question.
Wondering why your chicken keeps drying out? Trying to figure out the easiest way to chop an onion? Need a dinner idea that doesn’t require 47 ingredients and three hours of your life? I want you to come here and think, “I bet Laura has something about this.”
Because there is a LOT of cooking advice out there, and sometimes you just need someone to show you what actually works without making it complicated.
- Kitchen tips and technique videos that explain the why, not just the step.
- Recipes I actually make because nobody needs another recipe saved to a folder and never cooked.
- Pampered Chef products I actually use and recommend—and I’ll tell you why I like them, not just tell you to buy them.
- Parties that are actually fun—whether we’re hanging out in person, on Facebook, or through text.
Basically, I want to help you cook with a little more confidence, find things that make life in the kitchen easier, and maybe have some fun while we’re at it.
Want The Tips before anyone else?
I post a new one every Tuesday. Join the list and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.