Culinary Specialist Jamie Dunn
Meet Taste of Home Culinary Specialist Jamie Dunn! Jamie conducts Cooking School shows throughout the country, focusing primarily on the Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas areas. “It is the people that come to the cooking school that really make it so much fun,” states Jamie. “Whether someone is at the school for the first time or the tenth, there is always something new to be experienced and fun to be had with new recipes and great prizes!”
Jamie and her family, which consists of her husband and three children, currently reside in Owasso, Oklahoma. Jamie graduated from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Home Economics Education and Community Service. Jamie has previously worked as a Culinary Instructor for Tulsa Technology andBamaCookingSchooland as a high school Home Economics teacher. Some of Jamie’s favorite activities include cooking for family and friends, canning, cake decorating and gardening.
To learn more about Jamie, take a look at some of her answers to questions below!
Tell us something about yourself that very few people know? I am from Oklahoma so a love for country music comes naturally but I also have a passion for Southern Gospel music. When I am on traveling around doing shows I always check to see if my favorite groups might be performing.
If we were to open your refrigerator at home…what would we find? Condiments, condiments, condiments; my husband loves to buy and try new hot sauces, mustards and any other condiment you can think of. I have banned the purchase of any new condiments but somehow a few more seam to appear each time I open the frig door. Is this a comment on my cooking???
What is your favorite quote? “Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.” — Anonymous
How did you develop your passion for cooking/food? I started cooking in 8th grade Home Economics; my Dad was my biggest fan and would even rave if I heated up leftovers.
What is the best thing you ever ate? Of course it had to be dessert!!! A few years ago one fall someone gave me a basket of fresh picked pears. My mother in-law who was visiting and is an excellent pie maker got to work and made an incredible pie from the pears. We ate it hot right out of the oven and it was heavenly. I also love the Layered Turtle Cheesecake on tasteofhome.com
You spend so much time traveling the country, what are some of your favorite places to stop and eat? Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood, TX is one of my favorites. When I am on the road I try to eat at local restaurants, coffee shops and am always on the look out for a fun tea room to visit. I love to watch the travel channel and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and visit some of the place I see of those shows.
Do you have any special holiday traditions? What foods were cooked for celebrations or special events? My roll in holiday cooking for our family is preparing the pies and candies. Our two favorites are butterscotch Haystacks and Oreo balls. One of my favorite Christmas traditions is our exchange of Christmas stocking stuffers. Instead of all the members of my extended family buying each other gifts we purchase or make a stocking stuffer for each person. The cost can not be more that $2 and always yields surprises and laughter.
Hi Jamie,
Thank you for a great show tonight! It was my first time at a Taste of Home show. I had a good time. I have learned so much from the show, and free recipes I’ve received. My family will be eating tastier food now! I really liked the “Stone Fire” sponsor the best. Can’t wait to try the free sample!
Hi, Jamie!
I had a wonderful time at the Victoria Taste of Home Cooking School with my three adult daughters. It was a birthday gift for my oldest, Mary, but we had so much fun we may make it a yearly event!
Jennifer Vincent
Hi Jamie,
Great show in Baytown, Texas. I learned a lot and look forward to getting busy in the kitchen! I really liked the “Stone Fire” sponsor the best. Have a great Mother’s Day.
Had a great time at the Baytown Texas show tonight, my wife and i were not sure what to expect, but we really enjoyed and can’t waite for another show to bring our two young daughters to.
Thanks Jamie!
What an enjoyable evening! I gifted my daughter and granddaughter (and myself of course!)) with tickets to the Baytown show. We all enjoy cooking so this was a perfect evening. We had a great time and learned many cooking tricks and great new recipes. I am anxious to try several of the recipes but especially the meatballs using the Johnsonville sausage. This was my first show and now I can’t wait until the next one. Thanks again!
Great show in Baytown. We enjoyed it very much. All if us were wondering where you got your salt and pepper shakers. Would like to get a set for my niece for Christmas. She liked them alot. Thanks again for a wonderful show. Hope to see you next year.
Here is the website were I found the electronic pepper grinder I use during the show: http://www.thecookingdepot.com/kitchen.html#kitchentools
The Cooking Depot Kitchen is in Cuero TX I have a few pics on facebook of it and other utensils I got there.
http://www.thecookingdepot.com
I really enjoyed your show last night. I’m already looking forward to your next show here on Houston.
I do have a question:
When using a phillo dough, is it necessary to clarrify the butter first prior to brushing it on the dough? Or could I just use regular melted butter minus the work on clarifying.
Thanks
Just regular melted butter
Hey Brenda, Amy is correct, I used regular butter to make the Asparagus Strudel but clarified butter would work beautifully. As you work with the butter to make all 4 strudels the milk solids do tend to get a little bet solidified toward the end.
Hi Jamie,
I really had a great time at your last show in Mont Belvieu. I really loved the mojo chicken, luckily I got to take it home. It was a great way to spend a thursday night and if you ever come back, i’ll be there. Oh, and I would have to say my favorite sponsor is Gallo. Cheers, haha.
Thanks Jamie for an enjoyable evening. I’ve been to several schools over the years and always find it interesting. I utilize most of the National sponsors, but for this time I think the Ortega line is the most versatile for easy quick meals. By the way the local sponsors were great too, The Baytown Sun is awesome for hosting the event. And of course it was topped off with winning the Grand Prize drawing for the cookware!!!
Hi Jamie, great show in Baytown, Texas. I had 3 generations there. My two daughters,Ginger and Gay Lynn. Also my 16 yr. granddaughter, Macy. She even won a cookbook. We can’t wait until next show. Glenda Prescott
I had a great time at the show in Victoria, TX last Tuesday night. It was my first time to attend an event like this. My husband gave me this as a gift for our 6-month wedding anniversary. Anyway, you did a great job and were a lot of fun. I am not sure who my favorite sponsor was—–maybe Ortega. I am looking forward to making the taco casserole recipe soon. Also, I am a big fan of the local sponsor “The Cooking Depot.” They are an awesome store and offer a lot of wonderful cooking classes throughout the year.
Thanks for my first Taste of Home Cooking Show in Baytown, Texas. I really enjoyed the great recipes, tips and laughs. I have already made the meatballs from Johnsonville. Yummy!! My 2 year old daughter started making meatball with playdoh after tasting them. I plan on making the Taco Casserole (Ortega) and the New Orleans Garlic Chicken (Emeril) this week. My favorite sponsor is Ortega. I just love their Whole Grain Corn Tortillas. Can’t wait until next year, Cheers.
Amy
Great show in Baytown, Jamie! I’m going to make all ten of the dishes. You’re so fun and informative. I can see you having a great tv show too! Thanks for all the great tips and ideas. I always enjoy your shows! You rock! Taste of Home is a fantastic way for the home come cook to make great tasting and looking dishes. Keep ‘em coming! Janet
Janet, Thanks for coming to the show and for making all the great shirts worn by your posse-it was great!!! Your such an encouragment!
Jamie, my husband, Patrick and I attended your cooking show Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the Royal Purple Raceway Park in Baytown, TX. We had a fun time and enjoyed the cooking tips. My husband, Patrick’s picture even made the Sunday paper. We have tried several of the recipes we learned at the show. The taco casserole was a big hit. Our favorite sponsor was Stone Fire. I have already been thinking of all the things we can do for lunches and dinners for just the two of us. We had fun and look forward to the next cooking show. You were a fun host. Thanks. We hope attend a cooking show again.
I loved the grilled chicken in mango mojo recipe.
My favorite sponsor was the mushroom sponsor
You have been a complete delight! Thank you
Favorite recipe: Avacado Salsa Verde
Favorite national sponsor: Ortega
Thanks for coming to Roswell!
Hey Jamie! Thank you for coming to Roswell and teaching us some yummy recipes! My favorite recipe was the New Orleans Garlic Chicken! My favorite sponsor was Gallo Family Wine.
Thank you for coming to Roswell! So hard to choose a favorite, but I think I would have to choose the Asparagus Strudel because I LOVE asparagus! Yum! And my favorite sponsor would be Johnsonville. I’m looking forward to trying those meatballs!
I enjoyed your Cooking School last night in Roswell, N.M. There was a group of us (6 of us)
and we all had a great time. The recipe that I liked the best was the Taco Casserole.
Again Thank You for a great time. See you next year.
Judy Borst-Roswell, N.M.
Jamie, really enjoyed the cooking school last night in Roswell,nm. Thanks for coming. We don’t get to see these often. My favorite receipe was the taco casserole. Think we will have that for supper. Favorite sponsor….stone fire because I never heard of the naan flatbread.
What a great show Jamie! My sisters and I had a great time, lots of laughs and wonderful smells that would be an asset to any kitchen! My favorite sponsor is Ortega, favorite dish, taco casserole. Gallo (CHEERS) ran a close second! Hope to see you again at another show!
I forgot to say at Grace Community Church in Roswell, New Mexico
Hi Jamie,
Thank you for coming to Roswell, NM. I was there with my friend Kathi and we had a good time. It was nice to be close enough to smell the cooking!! My favorite sponsor was Gallo Wines!!
Thanks for coming to Branson MO. You were a delight. Loved the show &the recipes especially the cheesecake. Also love the Johnsonville sausage! And will be submitting the pork rind crusting soon.
Jamie!!!! Thank you for coming to Branson, Mo. The show was GREAT!!!! I loved Pam Tillis as the MC… I can’t wait to make the Emeril Chicken receipe. There were so many great sponsors you make it very hard to choose just one! The one I am going with is Gallo… Cheers!!!! The local Sponsor I liked best was Country Mart. I hope to see you again next year!
Jamie- I really enjoyed meeting and working with you today! The show was great. I am going to enjoy preparing the recipes we got from you today. Thanks for a fun day. I will look for you next year.
Great show last night. Our group greatly enjoyed your cooking and Pam’s jokes. We look forward to our next Taste of Home Cooking School.
Loved the show last night in Branson. Looking forward to trying the chicken and meatball recipies, Disappointed though that I didn’t win any prizes. Bet I’ll have to come back again. Come back soon.
Thanks for coming to Branson MO! Got great new ideas and even bought the comfort food (light) my family loves comfort food…. great sponsors….the bowl that came with the meatballs I won is awesome and great memento … looking forward to the next Taste of Home Cooking Show! have a fabulous summer. Cheers!
Jamie, I had a wonderful time last night! Thanks for the new recipes. I can not wait to try the peanut butter cheesecake, the sausage meatballs and the chocolate strawberry shortcakes. I can’t wait for you to come back.
Jamie, my husband & I had a great time last night. I won the taco casserole, thanks for the forks, we ate right from the dish when we got in our car. It was so nice to meet you. Today I am subscribing to Healthy Cooking for my daughter and daughter-in-law.My favorite sponsors were Ortega and Emeril.
You and Pam were awesome!!!
I had a great time at the Taste of Home Cooking School, Welk Theater, Branson, MO. I think the Grilled Chicken in Mango Chipotle Mojo looked yummy! Can’t wait to try the Gallo “Moscato” wine lol. I think I learned a thing or three. Thanks for the wonderful information, recipes, and good time.
The show in Branson was great. Thanks for the wonderful tips.
We had the most fun at a cooking school ever in Brandon with Jamie an Pam. What fun with great recipes and great door prizes.
Thanks Jamie. The show last night was terrific. I especially liked the spaghetti and meatballs and everything just smelled so yummy. My favorite sponsor was Ray’s Apple Market. Thanks for coming. I have to keep returning until I win a prize. Joan
My Mom and I attended your cooking show last night, in Manhattan, KS. You were such a delight to watch, Jamie! We had so much fun watching you prepare the many different ToH recipes. I think my favorite had to be the chicken with adobo/mango sauce. I can’t wait to bust out my skewers and give them a try.
Have a safe trip home! Happy Travels, and hope to catch you the next time around!
Thanks Jamie, The show you put on in Manhattan, Ks was a very awesome show! I enjoy coming to all of the Taste of Home schools every year.I enjoyed the part most where you shared the samples with the people in the audience. Thanks for signing my cookbook last night of all the shows i have attended this was the first show where we could have our cookbooks signed. Hope you come back to Kansas next year!! Hope you had a safe trip home!! My girlfriends and I go to these cooking schools every year for a Girls Night Out and always have a good time.
My mom and I spent the evening together at the Taste of Home Cooking School in Manhattan. We had a fantastic time. Our favorite recipes were the Taco Casserole and the Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes. Thanks to all the national and local sponsors! Thanks for bringing the Taste of Home cooking school back to Manhattan. Having it at McCain was a great success. Please bring them back next year.
What a fun evening at McCain in Manhattan Thursday night. This was my second time attending a Taste of Home Cooking School and can’t wait for the next one. I plan to try several recipes out on my family. Thanks to ray’s Apple Market, Sunny 102.5, Manhattan Appliance and Sleep Source and the many other local businesses that brought the event to Manhattan!
Hi Jamie! I’m late getting this in but wanted you to know that my daughter and I had a GREAT time at the show @ McCain Auditorium on May 24!!!!!!!! You were FANTASTIC! I won the big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs! Thank you!! I had to make some more of the Johnsonville Italian meatballs and sauce but that bowl fed 9 people plus enough for me to have for lunch a couple days later!!! So my favorite recipe and the one I made first was the meatballs. Favorite sponsors were Ray’s Apple Mkt and Sonny 102.5!!! Please come again!!! This was my 3rd show. We had a BLAST!!
I had a great time at the Manhattan, KS show. I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet but I will. I always do. I think my favorite recipe was the Italian meatballs. I took my 15 year old daughter to her second show & my 5th. My friend & I both took our daughters. I keep going back hoping to win one day. I like the idea of having reserved seats and the opportunity to get the VIP ones – but I’ve missed out twice now on those. Maybe I will have better luck next time. You were quite fun & a delight to watch. I have a question – what were some of the gadgets you suggested. My mother loves gadgets & so do I. I have family in Owasso & Coffeyville – so familiar with your home area. Thanks again for great fun.
Hi Jamie was wondering what the date for Bryan Tx will be this year??
Hi Kathy,
Hope you are having a great summer. The show in Bryan, TX will be on Tuesday, September 18th this year. Hope to see you there. Jamie
Thanks!! Looking forward, hope you’re have a great summer! Forgot the name of the newspaper where we could get the VIP tickets, if I could get that from ya too! Have a good one!
The newspaper is in Bryan and is called The Eagle.
Thanks so much!
I made the Pork Sliders you made at the Abilene Cooking School last spring, YUMMY!!!!!
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Dear Jamie: shame in me but I am sending this to you while sitting in your cooking show in Bryan, Texas, but I wanted to ask my question before I forget. For your mini cinnamon rolls you mentioned you use frozen rolls instead of making the dough. No was trying to look up that pumpkin soup recipie and missed it. Can you tell me what rolls you use? Thanks so much and please keep coming to Bryan! My mom and I love your show! All my best, Katherine Knight
I was at the show last night too….Always enjoy you!! I have a question on the Cinnamon Rolls & using the frozen dough – do you use the loaf or the rolls? and if it’s the rolls, how many rolls do you use per rectangle?
thanks! grate show — i just wish the video feed would have been a little faster/better, a couple times you put items ‘under’ the camera to show and b/4 the video could catch up, you would have removed it and we missed it!! And the big monitor in front of you…totally blocked our view! we could not see you – even if at a distance, you put on such a great show, i enjoying watching you!!
Cynthia,
I am so glad you enjoyed the show! I am sorry that the monitor and the camera delay were a little problematic. I will work toward moving that down to a lower level next time I am in Bryan—or maybe get a box to stand on! With the cinnamon rolls I used 10 rolls for each rectangle that was rolled out—so twenty rolls total for the recipe. If you are using frozen loaves you will need two (they generally come in packages of three.) Thanks for coming to the show and I hope to see you next year, until then Happy Cooking! Jamie
Katherine,
Thank you so much for coming to the show in Bryan—I love to be in Bryan-you Aggies are a fun group! For the Cinnamon Rolls just about any frozen bread dough will work. The frozen loaves work best for this recipe. We generally use Rhodes Rolls or loaves, it is just frozen dough you thaw and use. They make the best “homemade” yeast rolls. I have not been able to find the Pumpkin Sausage Soup on tasteofhome.com. I will check out the new Slow Cooker cookbook where she said it was published when I get home and let you know what I find. Thanks again for coming and great job getting to the site to leave a comment! See you next year!
Jamie
Katherine,
Leah who shared the recipe at the show shared on my facebook page that the recipe is not online but here is the book it is in: Everyday Slowcooker & One Dish recipe book. You can look at this and purchase at http://www.shoptasteofhome.com/side/cookbooks/slow-cooker.html
Hope this is helpuful! Jamie
Hi me and my mom went to this for the first time and we enjoy it. I like to cook but sometimes I don’t have everything I need for some food. It was very interesting to me and I want to go to a cooking school.
Thank you for the great show in Owasso! Johnsonville is my favorite sponsor. I love the mushroom recipes.