Stephanie Ashcraft, the nationally recognized cookbook author, will be at the 27th Annual Deseret Morning News Fall Home Improvement, Remodeling and Decorating Show to teach, as you might expect, cooking classes
She will share recipes from three of her cookbooks — "101 Things to Do With a Cake Mix," "101 Things to Do With a Tortilla" and "101 Things to Do With a Casserole."
Her first cookbook, "101 Things to Do With a Cake Mix" assembled in the living room of her BYU college apartment, reached No. 9 on the New York Times Best Seller List. She created the recipes as a college class project and later turned the recipes into a gift for family and friends.
The books became so popular that local grocery and bookstores ordered them and were selling out as soon as they hit the shelves.
"This really has become the miracle story," Ashcraft said. "I am a full-time mother of three children who loves to cook but doesn't like to spend too much time in the kitchen."
The oldest of eight children, Ashcraft loved to bake and was given the job of baking for the family. She learned the secret of using cake mixes from her mother and grandmother. While attending college, she began teaching cooking classes at a local grocery store chain. She ended up teaching the classes for five years and used the classes as her "test kitchen."
"I love to look at hard recipes and discover easy shortcuts by using only three or four ingredients," she said. "I am allergic to the kitchen if I am in it too long and break out in hives."
Her seventh book, "101 Things to Do with a Casserole," was recently released and her eighth book, "101 Things to Do With a Salad," will come out in spring of 2006. She has teamed up with Janet Eyring, co-author of "101 Things to Do With a Slow Cooker" and co-author Donna Kelley, "101 Things to Do With a Tortilla."
Ashcraft now lives in Tucson and uses her family as her food critics. Every night for dinner, she creates a new recipe and makes it for dinner. After she has tried the new recipe she keeps a notebook and after her children go to bed she enters in her computer the recipe and the necessary changes.
The simple format of the cookbook has no fancy glossy photos and a simple ring-bound-style creates ease in the kitchen.
"These cookbooks take the effort out of cooking," she added.
Ashcraft believes that cooking should save time and prevent frustration. "Eating dinner with your family should be an enjoyable time," she said. "Throw flour on your face and pretend it took all day."
Her presentations will be Friday at 3, 5 and 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2, 4 and 7 p.m.