Helping home cooks make bold, reliable meals
Hi! I'm Spencer-husband to Stacy, and dad to Averett and Shepherd. I started The Kitchen Coalition to help you sharpen real‑world cooking skills and put food on the table that makes people pause mid‑bite.
Click here to subscribe to my newsletter: The Collective Table
What you'll find here
- Approachable, flavor‑first recipes for busy weeknights and chill weekends.
- Technique explainers (salt, heat, timing, etc.) so you can cook smarter, not harder.
- Clear substitutions and testing notes so your results match mine.
- No A.I. generated recipes - all my recipes are written by me (a real person), with no input from artificial intelligence.
Start with these reader favorites:
- Handmade Sub Rolls
- Ultimate Smash Burgers
- Quick Bread and Butter Pickles
- Chicken Schnitzel with Lemon Cream Sauce
Or explore seasonal picks on my Fall Favorites page.
My story
I grew up outside Chicago and have called Western North Carolina home since 2005. After finishing an automotive technical program in 2010, I started taking home cooking seriously-inviting friends and family over as an excuse to reconnect. That simple idea-use food to bring people together-still drives everything I cook and share.
These days, you'll find me testing chicken thigh enchiladas, dreaming up desserts like my flourless German chocolate cake, and publishing fresh twists on the classics each month. The goal? Bold, dependable flavor with clear steps that work in real kitchens-including yours.
My recipe‑testing promise
- Every recipe is tested multiple times in my home kitchen.
- Precise measurements are provided in either cups or grams (for my baking/dough recipes).
- You'll see troubleshooting notes, timing cues, and substitutions.
- When readers spot issues, I update the post and note the changes.
If a step in a recipe doesn't meet my standards, it gets refined until it does - no matter how many tries it takes! I'm committed to providing quality content that simply works.
A note about my faith
Hospitality is at the heart of my kitchen. My faith in Jesus Christ completely shapes the way I welcome people to the table-creating space where everyone feels seen, nourished, and cared for. Whether you share my beliefs or not, you're always invited to cook alongside me here.
New? Start here
- Read this skills guide: Kosher Salt vs. Sea Salt vs. Table Salt
- Cook a quick win: Takeout‑Style Orange Chicken
- Get weekly tips + recipes: Join The Collective Table
Work with me
- Partnerships & sponsored content: See my media kit (request via the contact form).
- Press & interviews: Email me via the contact form.
FAQs
Do you develop and test the recipes yourself?
Yes-everything is rigorously developed and tested in my home kitchen. No A.I. recipes or shortcuts here.
Can I request a recipe or a tutorial?
Absolutely. Drop a note on the contact page or message me on social.
Do you share substitutions or dietary swaps?
Where possible, I include options and testing notes in each post.
One last thing
If you cook something from the site, tell me how it went-your feedback helps me improve every recipe here, and I love engaging with my readers!
Thank you so much for checking out my corner of the internet, and I hope I have inspired you to cook up something delicious!
