At Taste of Home, we believe home cooks are the best cooks, and our Community Cooks are simply the best of the best. The members of this vibrant community have created many of the inspired recipes at the heart of Taste of Home, treasured by cooks across the globe.
These talented home cooks are always whipping up fresh, exciting flavors, sharing their best cooking tips, and posting pictures and videos of their latest kitchen triumphs. Get to know Community Cooks from across the U.S. and Canada!
Community Cooks’ Newest Recipes
These brand-new dishes are fresh from Community Cooks’ kitchens. Which one will you try first?
Make the recipes Community Cooks are raving about right now.
Community Cook of the Month
Shelly Lynn Bevington from Hermiston, Oregon
Shelly Lynn Bevington started hobby contesting in 2008 and won her first recipe contest in 2009. In 2011, she began working as a lunch lady and continued in that role for nine years. During that time, she moonlighted in the summers as a cook at a soda fountain lunch counter, brewery, mini mart and bar. She was eventually offered a full-time position at the bar and learned to become a line cook through trial and error. For the last three years, Shelly has worked at Walmart as a deli/bakery associate.
Taste of Home: How did you learn to cook?
Shelly Lynn Bevington: I learned to cook from my mom and her mother. I also learned a few things in high school home economics, numerous community cooking classes and workshops. I would also like to say all the wonderful recipes from the Taste of Home community have been helpful.
TOH: Do you have a favorite recipe or recipes from Taste of Home?
SLB: One of my all-time favorites is knoephla soup with caramelized onions. Making the dumplings can be time-consuming, but they are truly delicious.
TOH: What is your favorite recipe you’ve had published to Taste of Home?
SLB: My Blueberry Zucchini Squares top the list. They were even featured in a Skype interview on the Hallmark Home & Family Show.
TOH: What is something you no longer buy from the store or at restaurants because you know you can make it better at home?
SLB: Taco salads, tacos, tostadas, etc. I really enjoy getting creative with the toppings and adjusting the heat level to mild.
Check Out Shelly’s Published Recipes
Our Whole Team
Community Cooks come from neighborhoods across the U.S. and Canada. Find one in your neck of the woods.
Lisa Allen, Joppa, Alabama
Katrina Adams, Mount Olive, Alabama
Arizona
Cathy Orban, Chandler, Arizona
Robert J. Johnson, Chino Valley, Arizona
Cori Cooper, Flagstaff, Arizona
Arkansas
Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas
California
Helen Nelander, Boulder Creek, California
Marina Castle-Kelley, Canyon Country, California
Kallee Krong-Mccreery, Escondido, California
Dr. Laura Wilhelm, Los Angeles, California
Ilya Khayn, San Jose, California
Colorado
Lisa Rohrbough, Morrison, Colorado
Connecticut
Anna Gass, New Canaan, Connecticut
Lynn Faria, Southington, Connecticut
Janet Turner, Southington, Connecticut
Ruth Hartunian-Alumbaugh, Willimantic, Connecticut
Florida
Janie Ganyard, Jacksonville, Florida
Lygdda Anthony, Longwood, Florida
Pam Brooks, Micco, Florida
Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida
Taryn Camp, Oviedo, Florida
Kailey Thompson, Palm Bay, Florida
Shawn Barto, Palmetto, Florida
Hawaii
Rachel Garcia, Honolulu, Hawaii
Idaho
Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Cindy Worth, Lapwai, Idaho
Illinois
April Lee Wiencek, Chicago, Illinois
Renee Page, Rochelle, Illinois
Indiana
Kizmet Byrd, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Kathy Renee, Terre Haute, Indiana
Iowa
Anna Miller, Churdan, Iowa
Jennifer Stowell, Deep River, Iowa
Kansas
Allison Ochoa, Hays, Kansas
Erin Wright, Wallace, Kansas
Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Kentucky
Donna Gribbins, Shelbyville, Kentucky
Maine
Pamela Brooks, South Berwick, Maine
Maryland
Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
Nikki Haddad, Germantown, Maryland
Massachusetts
Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts
Molly Winsten, Medford, Massachusetts
Michigan
Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan
Kim Shupe, Lake City, Michigan
Lorraine Hickman, Lansing, Michigan
Cindy Sue Nerat, Menominee, Michigan
Kelli Finger, Riverview, Michigan
Minnesota
Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota
Julie Herrera-Lemler, Rochester, Minnesota
New Hampshire
Jolene Martinelli, Fremont, New Hampshire
Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire
Margaret Drye, Plainfield, New Hampshire
Grace Vallo, Salem, New Hampshire
New Jersey
Kim Spaccarotella, South Plainfield, New Jersey
Chelsea Leonhardt, Swedesboro, New Jersey
New York
Aleni Salcedo, East Elmhurst, New York
Holly Balzer-Harz, Malone, New York
Marisel Salazar, New York, New York
Melissa Obernesser, Oriskany, New York
Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York
Bara’a Ekbarieh, Staten Island, New York
Andrea Rivera, Westbury, New York
North Carolina
Stacy Corday, Waxhaw, North Carolina
Ohio
Jacqueline Anderson, Avon, Ohio
Becky Carver, Cleveland, Ohio
Nicole Washington, Fairfield, Ohio
Kristyne McDougle Walter, Lorain, Ohio
Theresa Ravencraft, Marysville, Ohio
Diane Shipley, Mentor, Ohio
Oregon
Shelly Lynn Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
Mary Anne Thygesen, Portland, Oregon
Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Pennsylvania
Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Teena Petrus, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Susan Bickta, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Gabriella DiSanto, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
Patty Crouse, Warren, Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Renee Murby, Johnston, Rhode Island
South Carolina
Brooke Wofford, Travelers Rest, South Carolina
Tennessee
Dianna Smith, Newport, Tennessee
Makenzie Jones, Talbott, Tennessee
Texas
Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas
Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
Munni Alexander, Houston, Texas
Corinna Nguyen, Hutto, Texas
Marietta Slater, Justin, Texas
Carmen Edwards, Midland, Texas
Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Sherri Jerzyk, Somerville, Texas
Utah
Ashley Mills, South Ogden, Utah
Vermont
Nancy Mock, Colchester, Vermont
Virginia
Maggie Young, Richmond, Virginia
West Virginia
Lori Daniels, Beverly, West Virginia
Wisconsin
Heather Karow, Burnett, Wisconsin
Alberta
Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta
Lori Stefanishion, Drumheller, Alberta
Ontario
Susan Kieboam, Amherstburg, Ontario
Janet Tigchelaar, Ancaster, Ontario
Wendy Masters, East Garafraxa, Ontario
Niv Menon-Saberi, Port Elgin, Ontario
Jenny Latreille, Sudbury, Ontario
