About Marcie
Welcome to Flavor the Moments!
I’m a culinary school graduate, recipe developer, and the creator of Flavor the Moments. I create easy, seasonal real-food recipes with simple ingredients, big flavor, and no unnecessary fuss.
One of the biggest lessons I learned in culinary school was that many professional recipes are more complicated than they need to be for home cooks. I learned which ingredients and techniques truly make a difference—and which ones don’t. Today, I simplify recipes so they’re easier to make, use fewer dishes, and still deliver incredible flavor every time.
Whether you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner, a fresh seasonal salad, or a dessert worth sharing, you’ll find recipes that fit real life.
My Story
Believe it or not, I wasn’t always a confident cook.
I grew up baking with my mom and was much more comfortable making cakes and cookies than cooking dinner. After getting married, I found myself wanting to become a better cook, and before long I was completely hooked. I spent years reading cookbooks, taking cooking classes, watching cooking shows, and experimenting in my own kitchen.
In 2012, I started Flavor the Moments as a way to share recipes with family and friends. As my passion for cooking continued to grow, so did a dream I’d had for years—to attend culinary school.
That dream became a reality in 2013 when I enrolled in the full-time program at Tante Marie Cooking School in San Francisco. There I trained in classical French cuisine and pastry while developing a deep appreciation for seasonal ingredients, quality techniques, and thoughtful recipe development.
Cooking school taught me how professional chefs build incredible flavor—but it also taught me something unexpected. Many restaurant recipes are far more complicated than they need to be for home cooks. Restaurant kitchens have more equipment, more prep cooks, and more time. Home cooks don’t.
That’s why every recipe I create goes through the same filter:
- Does this ingredient truly improve the dish?
- Is this step worth the extra time?
- Would I actually make this on a busy weeknight?
If the answer is no, I simplify it.
My goal is to help you make delicious food you’ll actually cook again and again—not recipes that sit in a binder because they feel overwhelming.
My Philosophy
I believe great food starts with great ingredients—not complicated recipes.
Around here you’ll find recipes built around:
- Seasonal produce whenever possible
- Simple, everyday ingredients
- Quality proteins and wholesome ingredients
- Big flavor without unnecessary steps
- Easy techniques anyone can master
- Meals designed for real life, not restaurant kitchens
While most of my recipes focus on fresh, nourishing ingredients, there’s always room for homemade desserts, weekend baking projects, and the occasional indulgence. After all, life is all about balance.
Fun Facts About Me
- Born: I was born in Northern California, and resided in the San Francisco Bay Area up until 2024 when I moved to Boise full time with my husband. Our boys live in Boise too and we haven’t looked back.
- Education: I graduated St. Mary’s College in California with a BA in Business Management in 2002, and graduated with a culinary certificate from Tante Marie Cooking School in San Francisco in 2014.
- Job history: I was a network administrator for a major utility in San Francisco for 11 years before becoming a stay at home mom in 2002. I founded Flavor the Moments in 2012 and the rest is history.
- Favorite foods: Salads (hello, kale!), roasted vegetables, peanut butter, dark chocolate and seafood. Does coffee count as a food? If so, I’m adding that to the list.
- Traveling: I love traveling. I have a very long bucket list and truly love visiting beautiful places and experiencing the food in other cultures. I’ve been to Mexico, Australia, Greece, England, France, Italy and Spain to date.
- Sports. I’m a huge sports fan! I love Dodgers baseball, I’m a Raider fan, and I play Fantasy Football with my family every year.
- Outside the Kitchen: I’m very active and love hiking, walking my dog and my new love is pickle ball. I also enjoy reading, music, dancing and spending time with family and friends.
