That first job can lead to an incredible career. It did for us!
When we say “cooking and appliance expert” we really mean it, and once you read this post, you will see why that first job gave us unsurpassed credentials. If you EVER need creative recipes, up-to-date appliance insight, cooking classes, food writing or credible content, targeted cookbooks, corporate trainers or spokespersons, or kitchen-techno gurus, we are the ones to contact. From that first job in the test kitchen, we established ourselves as true cooking and appliance specialists and we continue to share our knowledge with companies or consumers. Whether it is developing creative recipes, testing new appliances, testing a new and delicious slow cooker dinner, developing inviting recipes for a new packaged food, creating magic in an Instant Pot, writing our latest cookbook or teaching sold-out innovative and fun cooking classes, we are the ones to turn to and we would love to explore how our experience and skills will benefit you.
We are all things kitchen and cooking related and bring all of our skills to each and every project and cookbook. Be on the lookout for our two newest cookbooks! Stay tuned for more details but this fall, The Best Cast Iron Baking Book and The Official CorningWare Meal Mug Cookbook will both be released. You can pre-order each of them now on Amazon. Plus our latest release, Toaster Oven Takeover cookbook, is available now. We are recognized for innovative, current and completely tested new recipes and cookbooks.
It is all true, and now you will learn why we can say that. We worked together in the test kitchen for Rival Manufacturing Company in Kansas City. That was forty years ago and the Crock Pot was a new appliance. New, yes, but taking the United States by storm.
It was a super busy test kitchen. We tested several Crock Pots each night (chicken, after chicken, after chicken) —recording temperatures to be sure the pots were cooking correctly. We worked with great engineers who were constantly developing new Crock Pot models and creating new appliances. We worked with Sales and Marketing, helping to tell the story of the Crock Pot, promote it and share the wonders of that new appliance. We talked with so many consumers, answering their questions, encouraging them to try this new way of cooking and helping them get the best flavor of their slow cooker. We developed hundreds (if not thousands) of new recipes.
To say it was a magical time for us, as young professionals, is an understatement. That test kitchen helped us sharpen and expand our skills. It allowed us to work with many people across the country, to test new appliances, and to become skilled in recipe development, PR, customer relations, and being part of a corporate team.
Most of all, it was where our friendship and business partnership began. We are so grateful for that time.
Time has flown by and the Crock Pot is now a kitchen staple. Can you even imagine a world without a Crock Pot? Whether it is for a family dinner, a potluck, the tailgate, cocktail party or holiday feast, the Crock Pot has an important seat at the table. It makes so many cooking tasks easier. It is now the way many people cook and get dinner on the table.
When Jenny Vergara, a friend and fellow member of the Kansas City Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, asked us to talk with her about the history of the Crock Pot and our work in the test kitchen, of course we said yes, immediately. She is a skilled journalist and added so many other interesting voices and perspectives to the story. It was fun to record the podcast and want to thank her and the entire staff at KCUR for making the story come to life.
Tune in now to listen to this PBS broadcast. It is an honor to reveal the story.
Thank you for allowing us to share this walk down memory lane and to again share how grateful we are that we worked together in a test kitchen on a classic kitchen appliance.
Now, let’s all raise a spoon and celebrate the wonders of the Crock Pot!
Leave a Reply