👩🍳 About Me — The Voice Behind Learning Ladle
Hi, I’m Andrea — a parent, culinary instructor, writer, educator, and lifelong food enthusiast.
I graduated from the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in 2006 and spent years working in a variety of restaurants and bakeries, honing my skills and deepening my love for food. Along the way, I worked as a recipe consultant and food writer, and I also studied English with an emphasis in creative writing — which probably explains my deep affection for storytelling, lesson planning, and well-written recipes.
I grew up in Santiago, Chile, and I’m bilingual — something I bring to Learning Ladle by sharing all of my recipes and resources in both English and Spanish. I believe food is one of the most powerful bridges between cultures, generations, and people — and I want this space to reflect that.
🥄 Why I Created Learning Ladle
These days, I live in a small mountain town, where I teach both in schools and through our local 4H program, helping students discover the joy of cooking and the pride that comes from creating something with their own hands. I also homeschooled my children through elementary school, which taught me how to adapt, be creative, and blend learning with real life.
The kitchen, I’ve found, is a powerful classroom. My students often say,
“It’s like making a craft you get to eat!”
And it’s true — cooking brings together science, math, language, nutrition, and creativity in a joyful, hands-on way. My goal here is to equip educators, homeschoolers, parents, and students with everything they need to teach and learn through cooking.
📚 What You’ll Find Here
At Learning Ladle, you’ll find:
- Kid-friendly recipes (in English and Spanish)
- Printable resources for teachers and homeschoolers
- Lesson plans and curriculum tied to culinary skills
- Cooking techniques and kitchen hacks
- Nutrition basics and tasting guides
- Guides for student recipe creation and fair competition
Whether you’re a parent helping your child gain confidence in the kitchen, a teacher planning your next hands-on lesson, or a young cook hoping to enter the county fair — I’ve got tools, ideas, and encouragement for you.
🌍 Bilingual Content
Because I’m fluent in both English and Spanish, many of the recipes and resources here are offered in both languages. I want Learning Ladle to be accessible to more families, classrooms, and communities. ¡La cocina es para todos!
💌 Let’s Stay Connected
I’m not big on selfies or social media — but I’d love for you to subscribe to my newsletter, where I’ll send occasional updates, featured recipes, seasonal printables, and teaching tools directly to your inbox.
Have a question? Want to collaborate? Use the [Contact Page] to get in touch — I’d be honored to hear from you.
🍓 Just for Fun…
- Favorite ingredient: Lemons — bright, versatile, and always surprising.
- Most popular student request: Homemade tortillas (especially when they get to roll them!).
- Book that changed my teaching: Kitchen Literacy by Ann Vileisis.
- Dream food trip: Exploring traditional kitchens across South America, one family recipe at a time.