Step into my kitchen, the heart of my home and the vibrant hub of Capers Emporium. There’s truly no place I’d rather be, unless perhaps exploring another inspiring kitchen somewhere in the world. The magic of cooking and entertaining lies in the power to nourish, to create, to engage all senses, and to curate every element on the table. The sheer delight of a beautifully prepared meal or an artfully arranged tablescape never fades. As someone who navigated childhood as a picky eater, I understand that cooking is more than just a skill; it’s empowerment. When you’re at the helm of the kitchen, you craft dishes that bring you joy!
Life’s whirlwind pace is something I know well, and I’m sure you do too. Amidst the hustle, carving out moments to share a meal or a simple snack with loved ones becomes a precious way to truly savor life’s moments.
Perhaps you share my appreciation for exquisite dishes, charming napkins, and food that is not only delicious but also a feast for the eyes. Food, in its most beautiful form, truly can be love made visible. This space isn’t just another online cookbook; it’s designed to be your wellspring of culinary inspiration, especially when it comes to Pretty Food. Time is a precious commodity for me, so the recipes I create and share are, for the most part, designed to be quick and approachable. Beyond speed, my culinary creations for myself, family, and friends adhere to essential criteria:
- Crafted with wholesome, healthy ingredients.
- Absolutely bursting with flavor.
- Visually stunning and undeniably pretty food.
While I often lean towards low-carb and sugar-free options, the recipes you find here can easily be adapted to include sugar and carbohydrates to suit your preferences. Interestingly, 2023 saw us open a candy store. I initially hesitated, but the vivid memories of childhood candy shops and the pure joy candy brings, especially to children, won me over. Stocking those nostalgic brands has been a delightful journey.
My kitchen is my personal laboratory, and I embrace the role of a culinary innovator, armed with bowls instead of beakers. I’ve developed a wealth of recipes that meet my standards, and I’ve also refined countless others to be lower in carbs and perfectly aligned with my taste.
While my background is in areas like banking law, cooking is a passion I’ve pursued through experience and continuous learning. I readily admit there’s always more to discover, and that’s part of the endless adventure. I’ve enriched my culinary journey with cooking classes around the globe, from Paris and Florence to Napa Valley, and I’ve also had the pleasure of leading numerous cooking classes myself. I’m eager to share the knowledge, tips, tricks, and essential kitchen gadgets I’ve gathered to save time and enhance your cooking experience. The faster we can create something wonderful, the sooner we can enjoy it and share that joy – and I want to empower you to do the same.
Michael in ocean
My husband, Michael, a true renaissance man, is the talented photographer behind many of the stunning visuals you see on this site. We often joke about our “FPD” – the Food Photo Diet – because I’m always eager to capture the beauty of a dish before we enjoy it. How else would you witness the pretty food creations I’ve been working on? When Michael isn’t available, or when I’m simply documenting ingredients or steps, I rely on my own trusty camera. His photographs are truly exceptional; mine simply get the job done. Naturally, I always prefer his touch when possible. Over the years, alongside his photographic contributions, Michael has managed real estate renovations and brought his expertise as a patent attorney, certified information systems security specialist, and neuro-linguistic programming expert to various projects. He’s also a master of outdoor cooking, particularly on his beloved Big Green Egg. Today, he’s an indispensable part of our stores, Capers Emporium and Capers Candy & Cards.
The original vision of PrettyFood wouldn’t have materialized without the incredible support of two talented professionals: Patricia Schoepke and Chad Harrison. Patricia was my constant collaborator, offering encouragement, guidance, and unwavering support every step of the way. Her passing in 2013 made it challenging to continue, yet I deeply missed the joy of documenting my culinary adventures. In honor of Patricia’s memory, I’ve returned to what I love most – cooking, entertaining, experimenting with kitchen tools, creating beautiful tablescapes, and surrounding myself with pretty food and dishes. I know she would be happy to see this passion rekindled.
The current captivating design of PrettyFood is the brainchild of Tiffany Wilken, a true design genius. When I was overwhelmed and unfamiliar with content management systems, Tiffany stepped in and completely transformed the site, making it more visually appealing, mobile-friendly, intuitive, and, thankfully, much easier for me to update. I’m truly ecstatic with the result!
Kate Ogle has been my video partner in crime, and I hope we can collaborate again in the future, despite the distance that now separates us. Filming our spontaneous and fun YouTube videos was always a highlight when our paths crossed.
You’ll often see glimpses of family and friends within these pages, along with their inspiring ideas and sometimes their cherished recipes.
We genuinely value your feedback and love to hear from you. Here are a few of the wonderful comments we’ve received:
“My mom and I are TOTALLY LOVING the new look – how fresh and beautiful it is! For years we have been looking at those Chinese soup spoons wishing we could think of a way to use them – THANK YOU!!!! Now we can justify buying them LOL. My mom is hooked on every word and picture – and keeps showing my dad all the little details in the pictures you have posted. She reminded me that it was YOU she’s been quoting for years – ‘cook from your refrigerator – use what you have.’”
“PrettyFood is TOO FABULOUS for words. I’ve been on the site for hours…wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!!!! I am so damned hungry from your descriptions that my cats are hiding under the furniture, lest I take leave of any last vestiges of self control.”
“PrettyFood Rocks! My favorite part is Takeout Tricks. Wow, that is sooo cool. What a great idea. My second favorite is Tablescapes. I love the idea anyone can do this.”
“Yikes, how can you work and not be starving as you look at all that gorgeous food? What a great site! The writing is great and fun. The photos are lovely. The layout is easy to navigate.”
“I absolutely LOVE the layout….your pictures are spot on and the food looks so good as if you could pick it from the computer and eat it! Not that any of this surprises me in the least…but I wanted to tell you how impressed I am with it and plan to SHARE it with all I know! Excellent, amazing, outstanding, exceptional, momentous, magnificent, phenomenal, STUNNING!”
Dare to Reach for the Extraordinary
Just the other day, at the florist, I was catching up with someone I hadn’t seen in a while. He asked how I was doing, and my response was an enthusiastic, “Great! Livin’ the dream?” And truly, I am. Living the dream, surrounded by pretty food and creative passions. And I want to inspire you to embrace your own extraordinary life.
Live LARGE. Don’t settle for mundane or ordinary. Be bold, be adventurous, be remarkable.
I’m here to show you how. I have the experience, and I’m eager to share it. 😉
If you find yourself in New Harmony, Indiana, please visit us at Capers Emporium. Join a cooking class or explore the treasures in our store. We would be absolutely delighted to welcome you!
