Hi everyone, I'm Jenny Flake from Picky Palate. So excited to be here with Smithfield.com sharing recipes with you.

I describe myself as an on the go mom to 2 crazy little boys with picky little palates, a wife to my high school sweetie and a retired for now Dental Hygienist and Pilates Instructor. Could I have picked any more careers? Lol!

My love of cooking started a little late for me although I come from a long line of good cooks. My beautiful Mom and French grandma cook amazing food and I have memories of cooking and baking with them in the kitchen however it wasn't until my husband and I bought our first home in Arizona, late 2001 where I realized I didn't really know how to cook! I made it my goal to read countless cookbooks and watch cooking shows until I felt confident in my new kitchen. To my surprise through my studying and practicing I realized I really LOVED cooking!

One thing led to another and I started creating my own recipes and entering cooking contests all over the country. I was lucky enough to compete in the Pillsbury Bake Off twice, the Build A Better Burger Cook Off twice, the National Chicken Cook Off and even won the National Cornbread Cook Off in 2007! I have the best memories of my cooking contest days and who knows, maybe I'll get back into it someday.

I started Picky Palate October 2007 as a place to put my creative recipes for family and friends. I remember not knowing what on earth I was doing! When people started reading my blog and enjoyed my recipes, I kept on creating and posting. Picky Palate has grown with me over the years and I love it to pieces. Creating recipes and capturing food photography is my passion and I am honored to share it with my readers.