0
0
1
0
Nancy is larger than life and when you talk to her she just makes you want to go out, grab life by it’s cannolis and do something amazing! In her kitchen not only will you find amazing food but Nancy’s empowering words on how you can change your life or make it better. This is not your average cooking show and don’t let Nancy’s happiness fool you into thinking this girl has always had it all. Nancy was born to a single Mom in a lower income neighborhood near the Pittsburgh Zoo. She dropped out of high school and in her 30′s she got her degree in human resource management. She created her own consulting firm, Silver Lining Solutions, and authored an award winning book “peace, love and lemonade: a recipe to make your life sweeter” shortly after that. Since then she has been in the kitchen cooking up empowerment and has even caught the eye of Oprah Winfery and Rachael Ray. If that doesn’t scream empowerment, I am not sure what does.
I got a chance to interview Nancy and ask her some questions about her life, what she plans to do in the future, and about some of her amazing services. I was so excited to read about some of the exciting things she has going on this year!
What has been the most memorable happening for you since you have been Dishin’ it?
Hands down, my greatest thrill was when The Rachael Ray Show called me and asked if I would create a video of my making a holiday gift. Of course, I said, “Yes!” It was titled, “The Perfect Gift for a Coffee Lover” and aired this past December 19th. I hosted a small brunch gathering in my home to watch show live with my family and friends. It was great fun!
I am really impressed that you were able to earn your BSBA degree in human resource management, despite all of your life’s obstacles. What is some advice you can give my readers to help them pursue their dreams?
Yes, I had a lot of obstacles. But I never played the victim role or stayed complacent. I learned early on that life is precious and needs to be lived to its fullest. With each obstacle, I had a choice in how I could respond to each situation. The choices are simple: do something or don’t something. When it came to my career, I always chose to do something. That is step two in my advice – do something no matter what anyone else says or does to you. There is so much free information on the internet to show you how. Step one is to fully believe in yourself and your dream. Step one is the most important step because if we don’t believe in ourselves or our dreams, no one else will either. When you realize that you matter and are worthy of living your dreams, things will start grooving for you. Once you realize what your dreams are and believe in yourself, you must take action to live your dreams. Dreams are not given to you, they are chased and there for you to catch. It will not always be easy but you have to try. Once you start living your dream, you will be glad you did. Very glad!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Because life changes so rapidly anymore, it’s hard to know exactly where I will be in the future. But I do know that wherever I am, I will be living my life to its fullest by making a difference in the lives of others and having fun along the way. My ultimate goal and dream is to be on television so I can utilize a larger platform to serve more people. I am trying to evolve “Life in Nancy’s Kitchen” into a television show. If I had to predict exactly where I see myself in five years, I will be dishin’ it out on national television and giving much back to those in need. Fingers crossed!
What is your favorite dish to cook and why?
Awe geez, Bobbie this is hard to answer because I love so many dishes! I love making soups and one-pot wonders from foods already in the house because they require my being resourceful; and there is no wasting of food. Besides, these types of dishes tend to fill my house with warming aromas of goodness and clean-up is easy!
Though right now, I just can’t get enough of Lemony Kale or Romaine Lettuce Salads with Shaved Parmesan Cheese. I’ve been eating it 2-3 times per week because I just love, love the freshness of lemon; the crispness of greens; and the saltiness of fresh parmesan cheese. They are so light and bright; kinda like how I have been feeling lately. I’m full of positive energy right now and these salads go well with how I feel. And on days where I am not feeling bright and happy, bring on the Cheez-Its®!
I for one, love the Dishin’ Parties aspect of your services. Can you tell my readers a little bit more about them and do you have a particularly memorable one you would like to share?
There’s nothing like a good ole gathering of people with great food, conversations and laughter. Oh and let’s not forget about the cheer! I have always enjoyed entertaining and love the energy from people having a good time, especially when they are gathering in the kitchen. Dishin’ Parties is a new service I offer that serves as a perfect way to gather people together to celebrate birthdays, holidays, charities or perhaps for someone who is going through a difficult time and could us some hoopla. During the party, guests become engaged in lively conversations, laughter and even in some of the cooking. It’s like having a themed event catered and leaving with a new enlightened twist on life. Due to the various themes and people at gatherings, the experiences will always be different.
A memorable party was when I “Dished Out Laughter” in my kitchen with a small gathering of women. After dinner while we gathered around my kitchen table, I started a conversation about living a little and grating off your lighthearted zest. Two of the women sipped some vino and were feeling pretty good. One of them decided to teach us how to zest a lemon. The other woman had such a hearty, robust laugh and facial mannerisms. Between the two of them, the rest of us were in stitches and very entertained. I managed to pull them back in and engaged us in a lighthearted chat about having some fun in life. It was a very enjoyable and memorable evening for all.
What fun things do you have coming up in 2013 that you would like to share?
This year, I am excited about preparing more foods and life lessons based on the requests of fans from the Life in Nancy’s Kitchen Facebook Page. It’s been amazing to me how many people, in such a short time period, are enjoying my postings. They are presenting such terrific perspectives, questions and requests. They keep fueling my passion. For example, one fan asked for my Pasta Fagioli recipe. So, being that every food I make has a life lesson attached to it, this past weekend, I created an episode where I made Pasta Fagioli and talked about how passionate, aggressive communication styles affect people, especially Italians! It was a fun, fun episode to make. I have requests for Cuban, Soul and Jewish foods too, all of which I have never made. But I will! I’m also looking forward to entering the world of television. I am very thrilled about dishin’ it out this year. Stay tuned!
I have no doubt that Nancy’s dream of being on television will come true. She truly is an inspiring lady and her videos are always worth watching, they make you feel good. Nancy loves when people visits her kitchen so make sure to follow her on Facebook and Twitter
Leave a Reply