Welcome to Little Mama Cooks, where the heart of the home meets the joy of sharing food that nourishes both body and soul.
I’m Jessica, the founder of this cozy corner of the internet, and this is the story of how love, legacy, and a little bit of chaos in the kitchen brought us here.
The Heart of the Kitchen: My Mother’s Legacy
My earliest memories are painted in the warm hues of my mother’s kitchen. Flour-dusted counters, the hum of a simmering pot, and her voice singing old folk songs as she stirred. To me, she was magic—a woman who could turn a handful of herbs and a tired chicken into a feast that made our family gather ’round, laughing and lingering long after the plates were empty.
Mama taught me that cooking isn’t just about recipes; it’s about connection. She’d say, “Food is the language of love, mija. You season it with patience, and serve it with your whole heart.” When she passed away five years ago, I inherited her stained, handwritten recipe cards and a promise to keep her spirit alive through every dish I create. Her empanadas, her sopa de lima, and her infamous tres leches cake? They’re not just recipes—they’re heirlooms.
This website is my tribute to her. Every recipe here carries her wisdom, her quirks (like adding a pinch of cinnamon to everything), and her belief that a meal shared is a story told.
The Secret Ingredients: Love and Partnership
If my mother is the soul behind Little Mama Cooks, my husband, Marco, is the steady hand that keeps it all afloat. When I first whispered the idea of turning my passion into a business, he didn’t blink. “Let’s do it,” he said. “I’ll handle the cameras, you handle the chaos.”
And chaos there was! Marco traded his weekends for grocery runs, his tech-savvy brain for website tutorials, and his patience for endless taste-tests (poor guy ate burnt cookies for a month). He’s my sounding board, my delivery driver when orders stack up, and the one who reminds me to sleep when I’m elbow-deep in dough at midnight.
But more than that, he’s my partner in this crazy, beautiful dance of building something from the heart. Together, we’ve turned our tiny kitchen into a studio, our dining table into a photography set, and our life into a shared adventure.
Why “Little Mama”?
The name comes from my mother’s nickname for me—“mi pequeña mamá”—a term of endearment she’d use when I’d stand on a stool next to her, mimicking her every move. It’s a reminder that cooking is a circle: what I learned from her, I now pass to you.
At Little Mama Cooks, we’re not just sharing recipes. We’re inviting you into our family’s story, one dish at a time. Whether you’re here for a quick weeknight dinner idea or a showstopping dessert, I hope these pages feel like a hug from my kitchen to yours.
So grab a apron, pour yourself a cup of coffee (or wine—no judgment), and let’s cook something that matters.
With love,
Jessica
P.S. — To my mama: I still stir counterclockwise, just like you taught me. And Marco? Thank you for always eating the burnt cookies.
