Get to Know Community Cook Marina Castle Kelley

From her home land of California, Marina has been sharing her recipes with u.s. since 2004. We dear the inventiveness she brings to our table.

Marina developed her love for cooking at a young age. Growing up, she was surrounded by dwelling house cooks with various cultural backgrounds who nurtured her skills and taught her traditional recipes. She now puts that archetype spin on recipes she shares with Taste of Home. We simply know you're going to dearest her dishes as much as we do!

Taste of Home: Tell us a lilliputian near you!

Marina Castle Kelley: I moved to the Santa Clarita Valley, California, in 2012. I love the desert. I married my wonderful husband, Joe, on June 17, 2022. When I'thou not in the kitchen, I love spending time with my grandchildren (I accept 15!). Right now, I live with my married man and my elderly mother, Nena. I experience blessed to be able to requite my mom the best quality of life and cook meals she loves every day.

TOH: How did your beloved of cooking get started? Was there someone in your life who taught yous?

MCK: I attribute my dearest of cooking and baking to several people. Of form, my mom, who is a Spaniard, just was built-in in Republic of cuba. She taught me how to make perfect rice, picadillo and papas rellenas. (Find more than of Mom'due south all-time recipes.)

I besides learned Italian cooking from my Sicilian stepdad, Fred. He taught me to brand the best meatballs and gravy (aka Italian red sauce).

Nosotros had a wonderful neighbour who taught me about the fine and colorful world of authentic Mexican cuisine, including homemade salsas, spicy egg dishes and, of course, burritos.

TOH: What inspires y'all to cook?

MCK: I find that cooking and blistering are cracking stress relievers. My life was turned upside down, when both my 43-yr-old girl and my husband were diagnosed with cancer. I use cooking and blistering to stay sane and then share what I make to bring happiness to other people.

(Marina, we empathize how therapeutic cooking can be. We've pulled together 100 recipes that nosotros hope will ease some stress for folks just like you.)

TOH: What recipe practice yous become asked to make the most?

MCK: Easily down my beefy potato burritos. I'll make them anytime, because they're just delicious. These burritos are a meal by themselves.

(Nosotros dear that you won a blue ribbon with this recipe! Here are a few more than blue-ribbon recipes to endeavor.)

TOH: Who practise you dearest to cook for about?

MCK: More often than not my husband. I swear, he would swallow a rock if I covered it with my almond cream cheese frosting. He brags to his work family about what a great baker and cook I am. I get embarrassed, simply I as well become emotional because he shows how much he loves me.

(That frosting sounds amazing! Hope you'll share information technology with us.)

TOH: What'southward your favorite recipe?

MCK: My carrot cake cookies. Carrot cake is one of my absolute favorites, and so I created a recipe to make those flavors easier to transport (and to eat while I'1000 driving).

TOH: Do you lot have any cooks or chefs whom you admire, and why?

MCK: I love, dearest, love Bobby Flay. He just seems like a really great guy. I also love Ina Garten—her recipes are always like shooting fish in a barrel to follow and I can count on them to be succulent.

(We love Ina, too! Nosotros tried her chocolate block recipe, and here's what we idea.)

TOH: Do you lot have any family heirloom recipes?

MCK: My mom's arroz con pollo (Cuban chicken and rice) belonged to my dandy-grandmother. The only matter I updated was to remove the sentence "go outside and find a plump chicken." I find it much easier to but become to the grocery store for my chicken at present.

(Nosotros love yourarroz con leche recipe too. So sweet and flossy!)

TOH: What kitchen appliance is indispensable for you and why?

MCK: I'd be lost without my KitchenAid mixers—I actually own three of them. I love them so much I named them! Betty is my hand mixer. She's perfect for quick and like shooting fish in a barrel jobs, similar whipping cream, meringue or a small batch of cookies. Bobby is my medium blender for everyday mixing, cookies, cakes and frosting. When I'm really baking up a storm, I bring out Martha, my large stand mixer. I utilize her for large heavy mixing. She makes piece of cake work of kneading breadstuff dough or whipping upwardly large cakes and big-batch cookies.

(Psst, Marina: Practise y'all have all of these KitchenAid attachments?)

TOH: What's your desert-isle meal—the one you lot could eat over and over again and never get tired of?

MCK: Lasagna, garlic staff of life and chocolate cake. Ooh, and some crusty French staff of life with an icy Dr. Pepper to wash it all down! Pure comfort food for this gal.

Think you'd like to join our team of Community Cooks? Observe out what information technology takes.

Endeavour I of Marina'southward Recipes Today!

Courtesy Marina Castle Kelley

Run into Marina

Marina developed her honey for cooking at a young historic period. Growing upwards, she was surrounded past home cooks who passed on their families' recipes. She at present puts that classic spin on recipes she shares with Gustatory modality of Home. We only know you're going to love her dishes as much as we do! Become a Community Melt like Marina.

Lemon Angel Cake Bars

A neighbour gave me this recipe years ago and it'due south been in flavor rotation ever since. It can be made ahead and serves a bunch, and so it's perfect for parties and potlucks. —Marina Castle Kelley, Coulee Country, California

Blue Ribbon Beefy Burritos

I have a son who lives in Mexico, and then we don't see him very often. When I make these burritos, it feels as if he is correct there at the table with us, inhaling them. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon State, California

Cannellini Bean Hummus

My version of hummus features a delightful nuttiness from tahini, a peanut butter-similar paste made from footing sesame seeds. The beans pack a lot of protein and so it'southward a salubrious snack for kids. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Swedish Raspberry Almond Bars

When I was a single mom with a immature daughter and little money, my Swedish neighbor brought me a batch of these cookies at Christmas. My girl's 36 now, and I still make these wonderful cookies. — Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

No-Fuss Avocado Onion Salad

My female parent, Nena, grew upward in Cuba and learned many styles of cooking. She had a knack for making something incredibly elementary sense of taste astonishing. This salad is proof. Past itself, the dressing is really tart, just add the avocados and onions and it'south the perfect complement. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Arroz Con Leche (Rice Pudding)

Sweet and simple, this arroz con leche recipe is real comfort food in whatsoever language. You'll love the warm raisin and cinnamon flavors. It's great served cold, too. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Land, California

Marina's Golden Corn Fritters

Only a bite of one of these fritters takes me back to when my kids were young. They're all grown upwardly now, but the tradition lives on at get-togethers, when I double, sometimes triple, the recipe. Serve fritters with maple syrup or agave nectar. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon State, California

Vanilla White Chocolate Mousse

I needed a quick dessert for my daughter's conjugal shower, and a co-worker gave me this mousse recipe. It's and so pretty with almonds and raspberries on top. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Louisiana Pecan Bacon Breadstuff

Ane Christmas, the babysitter brought gifts for my daughter and a handbasket of goodies, including pecan bread. When I make this bread, I call up that kind soul. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Shortcut Tres Leches Block

My mom's favorite block is tres leches, a butter cake soaked in iii kinds of milk. I adult a no-fuss version that'south rich and tender. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Dragon Lady Stew

I dear presenting this stew at Halloween. The harvest flavors and the black wild rice are perfect for the occasion. I named the stew after a shut friend.—Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Ramona's Chilaquiles

A honey neighbour shared this recipe. She used to brand it from scratch, simply my version takes a few shortcuts. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Land, California

Ginger Green Beans

The brilliant gingery sauce on these green beans is delicious and so unproblematic to whip up. It's perfection on either hot or common cold beans, but I too really love it tossed with cooked shrimp. —Marina Castle Kelley, Coulee Country, California

Copycat Berger Cookies

Afterward a friend who had recently traveled to Baltimore sent me a packet of Berger cookies, I was hooked. They disappeared so quickly, I decided to effort to re-create them at dwelling house. Afterwards many tests and tweaks, my hubby and I gained vi pounds between the two of the states, merely information technology was worth information technology—I landed on a reproduction of the famous cookie I'1000 so proud of. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Cuban Sandwich Burgers

My mom would make these Cuban burgers when nosotros would visit her in Florida. They are a have on the real Cuban sandwich. My kids love them. My boys could consume two of these monsters in one sitting. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Land, California

Princess Toast

I made these sparkly treats for my daughter'southward Credibility troop and they're peachy for princess parties. Sometimes I use lemon curd in identify of the jam. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Double Butterscotch Coconut Block

I got this recipe from a co-worker years agone, so I changed it a bit past adding a family favorite: butterscotch. Information technology is super like shooting fish in a barrel to throw together and is a perfect accompaniment to coffee or tea. —Marina Castle Kelley, Coulee Country, California

Blue Ribbon Carrot Cake Cookies

I created this recipe because I but dearest carrot cake. I wanted something that I could take with me anywhere and non need a fork. I entered my recipe in the Los Angeles County Fair and the cookies not merely won showtime place, only were too named Best of Division. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Butterscotch Peanut Butter Fudge

You don't take to be experienced at making candy to try your hand at this no-neglect fudge. The just succulent confection makes a great gift everyone appreciates.—Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Hearty Beef Enchilada

Created by my daughter, this spicy, meaty and cheesy goulash is great for a get-together with family unit and friends. I make it frequently for potlucks. —Marina Castle Kelley, Coulee Land, California

Blue-Ribbon Poppy Seed Cheese Bread

The recipe for this moist and delicious bread won me a blue ribbon at the Los Angeles Canton Fair. I make several batches at in one case and freeze them for afterwards employ or to requite as gifts.—Marina Castle-Kelley, Canyon Country, California

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Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/get-to-know-volunteer-field-editor-marina-castle-kelley/

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