Let's go back to 2010. I was working 80-hour weeks at a marketing firm in Chicago, living on takeout and stress, and honestly? I was miserable. Like, crying-in-the-office-bathroom miserable. One day, my best friend called and said, "Jess, when was the last time you actually COOKED something?"
I couldn't remember. That's how bad it was. So she dragged me to the grocery store, bought ingredients for her mom's famous chicken casserole, and said, "We're cooking. Tonight. No excuses."
Here's what happened: We laughed. We drank wine. We made a HUGE mess. And when that casserole came out of the oven, golden and bubbling and smelling like heaven... I cried. But this time, they were happy tears.
That moment when you realize cooking = happiness
The Great Career Plot Twist 🎭
Two weeks later, I quit my job. Everyone thought I was crazy. "You have a CAREER, Jessica!" Yeah, and I also have an ulcer and haven't smiled in six months. So I took my savings, enrolled in culinary school part-time, and started cooking. A LOT.
But here's the thing—I didn't want to make fancy French sauces or molecular gastronomy whatever. I wanted to make food that felt like a hug. The kind of food your mom made when you were sick. The kind that makes you close your eyes and go "mmmm" on the first bite.
My friends became my guinea pigs. Every week, I'd invite people over and test new casserole recipes. Mac and cheese with five different cheeses? Yes. Chicken pot pie casserole with a biscuit top? Absolutely. Breakfast casserole that's basically acceptable cake for breakfast? YOU BET.
The taste-test face of pure satisfaction
Meeting the Dream Team 👥
Fast forward three years. I'm running a small catering business focused entirely on comfort food, and I meet Hervé at a food festival. He's this fancy French chef talking about "elevating casseroles," and I'm like, "Dude, they don't need elevating. They need butter."
We argued for like an hour. Then we tried each other's dishes. And you know what? We were both right. His technique + my comfort approach = MAGIC.
When Hervé started Easy Casserole, I was his first call. Then came Sarah, who proved you could make casseroles healthy WITHOUT making them sad (still not sure how she does it). Imène brought her incredible spice game and taught me that sometimes, yes, we DO need heat. And Alexandra? She's the reason we have a whole dessert casserole category. Genius.
The Philosophy 🌸
Here's what I believe: Food is love. Casseroles are portable love that you can freeze and reheat. In a world that's constantly rushing, stressing, and demanding more from us, we deserve meals that make us feel good. Not just physically full—emotionally SATISFIED.
Every recipe I create, I ask myself: "Would this make someone smile?" If the answer is yes, we're good. If it's "meh," back to the drawing board. Because life's too short for meh casseroles.
So whether you're cooking for your family, meal-prepping for the week, or just need something that tastes like a warm blanket on a rainy day—I've got you. Welcome to my kitchen. Let's make something delicious. 🌸