How do you turn a simple task into a venture. That’s what Amy Currie asked herself about preparing meals for her family. In her early career she started out selling advertising for magazines with the hopes of being a publisher one day. But when her twins came along, “Racing home to get there before the nanny left the house, just wasn’t working.”
Amy always loved to cook and learned the basics sitting at her Philadelphia Grandmother’s kitchen table. “After leaving work, I knew I wanted to start something I could do from home.” So when a friend asked her to cater a party, she agreed. From that others called and Amy niched her catering business into foods “before and after” – “Hostesses would do the main course and ask me to do appetizers before the meal and provide dessert for after the meal.” 
Amy loves to offer things with a secret ingredient that makes something people are used to, have a bit of zest in a different way. Her catering business grew but Amy’s heart was really in preparing home cooked meals for her family, “I wanted to share the recipes I used myself with other moms. I found that celebrity chef recipes don’t always translate to what you’d make for your family.” She had found ways to put together a great meal in 10 minutes, something every mom needs. “Cooking at home dances between getting food on the table fast and effortlessly while also creating memories and traditions.”
After September 11th, “I went on a mission to reevaluate my life, as so many people in my home town were affected.” Amy’s outlet was in gathering the recipes she used, and recipes from her family and husband’s family, into a cookbook. In working to get it published she found it more prudent to self publish. “It took six months once I had the content. I was the writer, editor, designer and producer. I knew it was a hit, because I became the “Dear Abby” of recipe advice, among friends, neighbors, family, you name it, they called. I discovered I was quite good at doling out tips, and helpful hints to home cook’s everywhere.” So she promptly published another book and this lead to teaching at a local cooking school and writing assignments for other publications.
This was when Amy wanted to share with a larger audience. “I realized I could take what I had done in my books and build a platform on line and through social media.” She was all-in as a food writer and began adding demonstrations showing how-to videos once a week on a network of New Jersey on-line news sites. “I was even asked to audition for the TV Show Chopped.”
Amy has focused her goal on becoming the next Rachel Ray or Ina Gartner, “I’m setting my goals high to see how far I can get. I know I have a need to cook and publish to be fulfilled.” This is a mom in constant motion, educating herself on social media, Amy uses Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and her blog to build her following and her brand. She’s big on learning from others in her space and figuring out what they have done to succeed.
What’s her favorite thing to make for her kids and husband, “I’m really into these ice cream sandwiches made with toasted nuts, dried fruit and chocolate shavings.” On her blog right now is a recipe for mini meat loafs with bacon and BBQ glaze, paired with mashed potatoes – perfect for the fall. With these kinds of recipes and secrets, this family cook is on her way to sharing her home cooked recipes with the world.
Be sure to sign up for Amy’s blog at SecretsofaHomeCook.com
Contact: [email protected]
VentureMom Tip
When you love something and are good at it, go all in with all forms of social media.
