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.
Thanks so much for your message about the show last night in Rolla! I’m excited to hear you and your daughter enjoyed the cooking school. And, I completely understand your comment about the front row seating. It makes me think back to times I’ve been in the front row at a movie theater — it’s not necessarily the best place to enjoy the show. I will be sure to pass along this feedback so they can take it into account next time. Have a wonderful summer and thanks so much for your kind comments!
– Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Hi Karen!! Loved the show in ROLLA, MO!!! I have been to several shows in the past and yours is by far the BEST!!! You made it very enjoyable, didn’t talk “down” to us, joked a lot, made it seem more cozy than being in a large auditorium, and made several great foods I cant wait to try @ home! Loved the hints and suggested changes to the recipes. So glad you came to Rolla! Hope you come back again!!
Trudy,
I’m excited to hear you enjoyed the cooking school last night in Rolla. I had such a great time, and I appreciate your warm hospitality. It means so much to me that you took the time to stop by the blog and post a comment. Have fun experimenting with the recipes. And, I hope to see you again at another cooking school in the future!
THANK YOU for your kind message! It puts a big smile on my face.
– Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
I loved the show in Rolla!!!
I’ve wanted to attend an event like this since I’ve been a subscriber to TOH magazine!!
It was pretty awesome
You did a fantastic job and I hope that Rolla will do this again someday!!!
Elisa,
My husband and I just returned from our vacation at Osage Beach, so I was back in your area of the state. We loved every minute of our trip. I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the cooking school in Rolla. I hope to see you again at another show in the future. Have a nice summer, and enjoy trying out the recipes!!
THANK YOU so much for taking time to stop by the blog and leave a comment. It makes my day!!
– Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Hi Karen,
I’m a local Minnesotan Taste of Home Field Editor and would love to help out at the St. Cloud, MN Taste of Home Cooking School Show. I’ve contacted the local sponsor, St. Cloud Times/Times Media to volunteer, but they mentioned that all slots have been filled by the media sponsor staff. I’m wondering if you need any help prepping food, your display/work area, carrying stuff in or even grocery shopping. Whatever you need help with, I’m available November 1st if needed.
Faith Ford
midwestfoodie09@gmail.com
Faith,
What a nice message!! I appreciate your kindness! I will check with my contact at the St. Cloud Times, but I feel like “the more, the merrier”. I’d love to have your help prepping ingredients the morning of the show. We have 10 recipes, so there is plenty to do. The groceries are provided by Coborn’s, so they take care of gathering and delivering the items on our grocery list.
I’ll send an e-mail to your e-mail account to follow up. But, I look forward to meeting you in November!
Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
I had a great time this morning at the Taste of Home Cooking School in Des Moines! It was a special treat to have several family members and friends in the audience. Thank you to all who attended the show. I hope you have fun trying all the new recipes!
Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
The “garlic rocker” I used during today’s cooking school can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Rocker-Garlic-Crusher-Stainless/dp/B003Y3AZSM
Thank You for sending Karen to Mason City, Iowa. We hope to see her again next year!!!
Thanks so much, Danella! I appreciate you coming to the show last night, and thank you for taking to stop by the blog and post a comment.
Karen – Just left the show that you did in St. Charles, IL. I am not a very good cook, or at least that’s what my husband and sons say…can’t wait to wow them with the short ribs in the slow cooker. Thank you so very much for all of the great tips. I may not be a very good cook, but I am certainly not afraid to try new meals. I just have to take the time to plan my meals out. Have safe trip to your next destination.
Rebecca Hubbs
Rebecca – Thanks so much for stopping by to post a message! I hope you have fun trying out the slow cooker short ribs recipe. I have a feeling your family is going to love it! It really makes my day to hear you had a good time last night. I had a great time, too. I’m off to La Salle today, and then I’ll be heading to Wisconsin for a couple of shows next week. Have a great weekend! — Karen
Hi Karen! I just attended my first TOH show tonight in St. Charles and I am hooked! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m so glad I went! Like you, I’ve been cooking since I was a kid, but I can always use some new ideas in the kitchen. I especially loved your cooking tips, like spraying your measuring spoons with cooking spray, and tossing cubed brie with a bit of flour so it doesn’t stick together. Oh, and the garlic rocker is genius! Keep up the great work. You are a fabulous cook and keep the crowd very entertained. Looking forward to my next show!
France – Your sweet message puts a smile on my face this morning! I’m thrilled to hear you had a fun time at your first cooking school. And, I hope you’ll enjoy trying out the new recipes. Each of them truly are things I would make at home, so it’s fun to present them to the audience. Have a great weekend and “Happy Holidays” to you and your family. I hope to see you again the next time the cooking school comes to St. Charles! — Karen
The “garlic rocker” I used during my show can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Rocker-Garlic-Crusher-Stainless/dp/B003Y3AZSM
Hi Karen,
I was at the show in LaSalle, IL on the 10th, you were amazing, this is the 4th show I have been at and the second that you have done and I always walk away smiling and ready to cook:0) Thank You so much and Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much for your kind message!! I’m thrilled to hear you had fun at the cooking school in La Salle. I did, too!
I am back home this week and am looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with my family. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. And, I hope to see you again at another cooking school in the future!
Hi Karen Davis! I like you very much because of you are a great chef which is fully American. Thanks for share.
Thanks so much for your kind comment. I appreciate it!
I attended the Cooking School in St. Joseph in Nov. I remembered the tip you gave that night using your Kitchen Aid Mixer and the paddle attachment to shred the meat for Pulled Pork. I had cooked a 3 1/2 lb pork loin in the crock pot with a small amount of water and sprinkled dehydrated onion flakes on top of meat. I then put my meat into the mixing bowl, used my paddle attachment and in one to two minutes it was perfectly shredded. Sure beats the 2 fork method!
Marjorie – It’s so nice to hear from you! I’m glad to hear the pork shredding tip worked well for you, too. Thank you for taking time to stop by our blog to let me know. I really appreciate it! Hopefully our paths will cross again at a future cooking school in St. Joseph. Take care – Karen
Had a Great show last year with Chef Karen! Heard you are coming back to see us again in March! Can’t wait. Perhaps there will be Cupcakes for you this time
Julie Herrera-Lemler Rochester, MN
Julie — Thank you so much for your message!! I’m thrilled to be coming back to Rochester, and I look forward to working with you again. CUPCAKES??!! You are talking my language. Ha ha! See you in March!
Take care, Karen
Karen,
Was wondering if you ever hit the NW corner of IA. Looking at the Sioux County area to see if we can could get you here to teach us some more cooking tips and even some healthy cooking tips as with the changes being made in our medical world, we, the health care staff, are trying to teach patient’s how to stay healthy to help them manage their medical diagnosis.
Sherri K.
Hi Sherri! Thank you so much for your message. Yes – we had a cooking school in Sioux City last fall and it was lots of fun. For the spring of 2013 it looks like the Taste of Home Cooking School closest to you is in Larchwood, IA. It is interesting you mention medical staff. I am doing a cooking school over in Grinnell, IA on April 15, and it is being sponsored by the hospital. They are doing a terrific job organizing the event, so maybe more hospitals will come on board as local liaisons for “health” focused schools. I will let our office staff know you are interested in this type of event for NW Iowa! — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
Are you going to be doing the show coming up in Eau Claire?
thanks
Yes, I sure am Arleen. Are you coming to the show? I’d love to see you. We have a great group of recipes for this spring!
Have my tickets and am looking forward to it – never disappointed yet by any of the previous shows.
Loved your Grinnell show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much, Linda!! I am thrilled to hear you had fun. I did, too!
And, I really appreciate you taking time to stop by the blog and post a comment.
I have gone to your shows in Newton also had friends and family go with me . Enjoyed the buffet in Grinnell Guess I enjoy everything about all of the shows I have been to. Keep the shows coming to my area. Thank you You are great!
Thank you so much, Linda! It was great to see you in Grinnell! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the buffet. I thought that was a nice addition to the evening, too. I really appreciate you taking time to stop by the blog and post a message. And, I look forward to seeing you (and your friends & family) at another cooking school in the future! In the meantime, I hope you have fun trying out the new recipes.
Great show in Eau Claire today. Appreciate the great hints and I too have a “farmer” husband so I found your stories very amusing. Keep up the great work and hope to see you next year.
Thanks so much for your message, Arleen! I appreciate your kind words and am thrilled to hear you had a good time today. I had fun, too! I hope to see you again next year.
Dear Karen,
Thank you so very much for the prize you gave me at the cooking school last night in Brainerd, MN. The cook book: “Best Loved Healthy Resipes” is just great … I leafed through it this morning, and I want to make EVERYTHING”!! Your presentation was entertaining, informational and enjoyable!! I was the lucky one to get this cookbook prize!! Florence
Thank you so much for your message, Florence! I’m thrilled to hear you are enjoying the cookbook. I love that one, too!
And, I am also so happy to hear you enjoyed the cooking school. I hope you have fun trying out the new recipes with your family and friends. Take care! — Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School
I was at your cooking school last night in Brainerd, MN- and truly enjoy myself. I have been to several, but really enjoyed last night. You presented very well, made it fun and gave some good tips. Thanks-Kathy-a formerly from Iowa….
Hi Kathy- It puts a smile on my face to read your message and your connection to my home state of Iowa.
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the cooking school! I hope you have fun trying out the new recipes at your house. And, hopefully I’ll see you again at another cooking school in the future. Take care! — Karen Davis, Taste of Home Cooking School