Culinary Specialist Karen Davis
Meet Taste of Home Culinary Specialist Karen Davis! Karen conducts Cooking School shows throughout the country, focusing primarily on the Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin areas. “The Taste of Home Cooking School is fun, entertaining, and just a great night with others who love to cook,” proclaims Karen. “Everyone walks away learning something new.”
Karen currently resides in central Iowa with her husband. Karen graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa with a double major in Home Economics Education and Educational Services in Family and Consumer Sciences. Karen has over 15 years of food marketing and education experience working for national food product and marketing companies. When not putting on an amazing Cooking Schoolshow, Karen loves to cook, garden, and spend time with family and friends.
To learn more about Karen, take a look at some of her answers to questions below!
Tell us something about yourself that very few people know? I live in a small town in Iowa that is nicknamed the “Good Egg Town”. The sign that greets you when you drive into town says, “Home to 1,700 good eggs, and a few stinkers”. My husband and I hope we’re a couple of the “good eggs!”
What’s your favorite book? Take Time for Your Life by Cheryl Richardson.
How did you develop your passion for cooking/food? I developed my love of cooking from my Mom and Grandma. They were both farm wives and often served meals to the men working on the farm during planting and harvest season. I loved to tag along and help them.
Do you have any interesting uses for everyday kitchen tools or pantry items? I like kitchen tools that serve double duty. For instance, I use ice cube trays to freeze leftover chicken broth. Once frozen, I pop them out into plastic storage bags and thaw them, as needed, for soups, sauces or gravies. I use plastic self-sealing storage bags for piping deviled egg filling or decorative icing for cakes. Simply snip off one corner with kitchen shears and press the mixture through the tip.
What is your favorite thing to cook versus your favorite thing to eat? One of my favorite things to make is bread – especially if I have extra time on the weekend. I just love the process of proofing, shaping and baking it. The whole house smells wonderful.
What is a funny or memorable moment that has happened in your own kitchen? When my husband and I were first married, I decided to try and impress him by making pizza, complete with a homemade crust. Within minutes of baking the pizza the cheese was bubbly and brown, so I took it out to serve. The trouble was, the crust was still doughy and the pizza slices fell into heaps of mush on our plates. We tossed the pizza, along with my pride, and called for pizza delivery! Since then, I’ve learned to bake the crust first, and then add the toppings during the last few minutes.
When did you start cooking? I started cooking and baking around the time I received an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas. I still have it! It’s bright orange and bakes cakes and cookies with the heat of a light bulb.
You are truly a Cooking American! We all love you-
Thanks, Michael! You are too funny.
I had a wonderful time in Alexandria, MN last night. We had a great crowd, and it was fun to meet so many people prior to the show during the “backstage tour”. Now I’m heading to Bethany, MO for their very first show. Can’t wait!
Karen,
Fun evening in Alex. You used a nifty knife and referred to it earlier in the evening when you chopped up a pepper. Where can you locate this type of knife. Thanks! Kay
Hello Kay,
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the show last night! I had a great time, too.
The knife I mentioned during the show is a Santoku knife — the one with a scalloped pattern on the blade that keeps food from sticking to the knife as you are chopping. I’m seeing them at on-line retailers, kitchen equipment shops and even the large discount retailers. I hope this helps! — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
I’m back home from Bethany, MO. They hosted their first Taste of Home Cooking School last night. The community really rallied around the event and made it such a fun night! I look forward to resting up over the weekend and then heading to Beloit, WI! — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Karen:
I had just come into town to spend time with my Mom( I live in GA now) and there was as ad for the show in the local paper. I had always wanted to go, so I gathered up my Mom and mother inlaw. We were at the Alexandria show and had a wonderful time! Thanks so much for making the show a delightful and fun night. I can’t wait for the next time I’m able to go.
Lorraine, I’m so glad you, your mom, and mother-in-law enjoyed the show in Alexandria! I had such a great time, too. What a fun audience. I hope to see you again at a future show! — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Karen,
Thank you so much for a wonderful evening in Bethany. We truely enjoyed ourselves. You did a great job. You kept us entertained with your great sense of humor. I enjoyed getting the VIP booth ready for the show & gathering the volunteers. Hope to see you again back in Bethany.
Janie
Janie,
THANK YOU so much, Janie! It was such a pleasure to meet you in Bethany. I appreciate all your work on the VIP booth. Your homemade Taste of Home appetizers made it extra special! I also appreciate you gathering assistants to help with the food preparation for the show. The ladies did a wonderful job. I hope this is the first of many future cooking schools in Bethany! — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
I am back home after a great week of cooking schools in Middleton, WI and Riverside, IA. So much fun! It will be nice to spend a little time at home to spoil my husband with some home-cooked meals. I hope everyone is having a wonderful fall season! — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Will you be doing the show in Osage IA?? If so I will see you there….CAN”T WAIT!!!!!!! This will be my first time at a show, I have heard they are ALOT of fun!
Hi Amber,
Yes, I will be doing the cooking school in Osage! I am so excited you are coming to the show. It is going to be lots of fun and we have some great recipes for the show. You’ll have to stop by the stage and say “hello”. It would be great to meet you!
- Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Thanks for coming to Sioux City!!!! Aaron is still on cloud nine from meeting you after the show! Now the hard part for him…deciding which magazine is his! Oh yeah..he’s planning to wear the t-shirt that was tossed into the crowd tomorrow to school! Hope the trip to your home neck of the woods was uneventful!
Melissa –
Thanks so much for taking time to post a comment. It was great to meet you and Aaron! I am thrilled to hear he enjoyed the show. I hope he enjoys the magazine and has fun experimenting with the new recipes.
I made it home safe and sound. It was great to have lunch with my husband today. Now, I’m in the Kansas City area getting ready for a show in Lee’s Summit Thursday night.
I hope our paths cross again at another Taste of Home Cooking School!
– Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Just wanted to say thanks for a great show in Osage, Iowa! Loved the stories and jokes. Truly an amazing night!
Thank you so much, Melody! I’m so excited to hear you had a good time at the show last night in Osage. I had so much fun. I hope to see you again at another Taste of Home Cooking School. Take care! — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
I really enjoyed the cooking in Osage last night. I learned a lot interesting tidbits. I look to cook so I am sure I will be using the recipes and subscribing to Taste of Home. Thank you.
Theresa,
It’s great to hear from you! Thank you for taking time to post a comment. I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the cooking school in Osage. Have fun experimenting with the new recipes! And, I hope you enjoy the subscription to Taste of Home. Take care – Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Wanted to thank-you for a great show in Osage last night. That was the first time I was able to make it to a show and was very impressed! Made the easy lasagna skillet for lunch at the farm today and the men loved it!. Thank-you so much for everything!
Georgia,
Thanks so much for your message. I’m glad you had fun at the cooking school — it makes my day! It’s great to hear that the Easy Lasagna Skillet went over well for lunch. My husband loves that one, too. I hope to see you again sometime at a future cooking school. Take care!
Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Have a super show tonight in St. Cloud!!
Thank you! We had a packed house in St. Cloud. Lots of fun!!
— Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Thanks to all who attended the cooking school in St. Cloud! I had such a fun time, and I hope you did, too. As promised, I am passing along the sources for a couple of the dishes people asked about during the show. I hope this helps!
— Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Red ruffle casserole dish (for the lasagna) -
http://www.zappos.com/bia-cordon-bleu-96-oz-wavy-rectangular-baker-red
Wooden appetizer platter (for the red pepper spread) –
http://www.waresdirect.com/products/Restaurant-Supply/Update-International/Pu-Pu168481?trackURL=froogle
I had a great time at your show last night, you did an awesome job!! This was my first time going to one and I can’t wait until the next one! The recipes you made looked fabulous!! Thanks for a great evening!!
Thank you so much, Heidi. I appreciate you taking time to post a comment. Your message makes my day! I hope to see you again at a future cooking school. Take care — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
One of my favorite Taste of Home recipes is the Orange Breakfast Ring. I’ve used it for a bridal shower and for other special breakfasts with family. You’ll find it on the Taste of Home web site at http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Orange-Breakfast-Ring. Enjoy!
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Thank you to everyone who attended the Milwaukee Taste of Home Cooking School tonight! I had a wonderful time meeting you!! I hope you enjoyed the show and have fun experimenting with the recipes at home. — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Had a great time at the show last night and can’t wait to do it again!!!! Thank you so much!!
I just finished a cooking school in St. Charles, IL. What a fun crowd! Thank you to the King Co. Chronicle for hosting the show. And, a big thanks to everyone who came to the cooking school! I appreciate your kind hospitality. — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
I really enjoyed your school at Marshalltown, Iowa last week. I also was the lucky one that won the Beef Wellington and it was wonderful. My husband and I had two meals out of it. That was the second show I have been too and have picked up tips at both of them. Thanks so much.
Hi Ann – Thank you so much for your message! I am thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Beef Wellington. I finished up my travel for the cooking school and went right into preparing for the holidays. I think we’re all ready to go now, so I’m looking forward to actually relaxing and enjoying it all during the next week. Merry Christmas to you and your family!! I hope to see you at another cooking school in the future. — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Hi, Karen. I hear that you will be the TOH representative presenting at the cooking school in Jefferson City, MO, on April 26. I’m a field editor from Missouri who is passionate about both home-style cooking and Taste of Home. I’ve had the privilege of working behind the scenes at the cooking schools in Jefferson City, Owensville, and Sedalia and hope to have the opportunity to work with you this year. Traditionally, the organization I work for, Missouri Farm Bureau has traded out a sponsorship in return for a crew of people to work behind the scenes in the kitchen on the day of the show and also for the show that evening.
I look forward to the opportunity to work with you and hope you won’t hesitate to call on me if there is any way I can assist you when you come to Jefferson City or other central Missouri venues. If you need a reference, you might check with Chef Guy or Chef Jamie, I’ve worked with both of them and we developed a great rapport.
I look forward to meeting you on April 26!
Debbie Johnson
Taste of Home Field Editor
mdjohnson65063@yahoo.com
573/619-0464