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Welcome
Hi friend! I’m Mitzi Neely and I am so happy that you have found your way here to my kitchen. I’m a wife, mother, and grandmother, love sweet tea and hail from the Lone Star State where good food and good people abound. My love of food (eating and cooking) started as a little girl spending time with my grandmothers who could cook like nobody’s business. I found myself in awe at what they could do with a few ingredients and a little time.
My earliest memories in the kitchen were helping my maternal grandmother make a dewberry cobbler or cookies. And from there I was well on my way to being a foodie! I know my sweet man is grateful for that because he’s the rockstar foodie in our household. He’s pretty easy going about the recipe selection that takes place (I always ask for his input as I plan), but if there is no dessert, then an SOS goes out — “Houston, we have a problem.” Meaning, it’s time for something sweet!!!!
Seriously though, I’m an avid cook who likes the quick and easy, as well as dishes that take a bit more time. In addition to a childhood and youth filled with cooking opportunities, I was a Home Economics teacher for the first part of my education career and taught hundreds and hundreds of students how to plan, prepare, think about nutrition, work within a budget, and through lab setting I was able to provide them with plenty of hands-on experience so they were prepared to take care of themselves and their families. Mission Accomplished!!
I believe you’ll like Zizi’s Kitchen for the delicious recipes and the ease of making them. All are tried and true and have been made and served countless times. They are taste tested by my own family and friends and are requested many times over. Some may call the dishes I serve as comfort food, but more than that, I like to call it just good home cooking.
Here’s our granddaughter, Neely, helping me in the kitchen and making one of our favorite desserts: Four Layer Delight. It’s a staple on the dessert table at home, potlucks and church dinners. It’s also a favorite for her because of the chocolate pudding. Who doesn’t love chocolate?
Here we are making another favorite: Chicken Salad with avocado mayo. Yummy for sure and the perfect dish for summer lunches.
Here’s my Resume
If you’re wondering what my background is and how I’m qualified to run Zizi’s Kitchen, well here goes. You already know I grew up cooking. Along with my grandmothers, my mom and mother-in-law were wonderful cooks and they each had a huge influence on my life–in many areas, but the kitchen for sure.
I have a Bachelor’s degree and a Masters degree in Home Economics Education and I taught Food’s classes at the high school level for 19 years of my public school career. I believe the food I prepare should be delicious, appealing, and nutritious. That doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy a few fried foods along the way because we do. But what I want most is for my family to be happy when we gather at the table and fellowship over a meal. I want them to see that I have lovingly prepared their favorite dishes.
My Family
Below is my sweet man and me. We have been married for 40years and live our life with God at the center. We love and enjoy our family and friends and one way I can show others I care is to prepare a simple meal for them. There’s been a huge labor of love over the years preparing thousands of dishes and meals for my husband, our kids/grands, family and a host of friends. I’ve also shared cooking lessons with our grandgirls, enjoyed contributing to showers and parties, and I’ve catered a few special events over the last decade for friends. It is a privilege to invite you here, to fellowship with you and I hope you enjoy the recipes and the resources from our table to yours.
Stay tuned for the new website, ziziskitchen.com is coming soon!