Engaging stories of love, joy, comfort and friendship with proven scrumptious, healthy recipes, we celebrate LOVE as the secret ingredient for wonderful food!

About

This is the story of the circle of love and food.

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My name is Mary Frances. I am a lifelong food lover and the owner and creative director of the NYC award-winning design, branding, and marketing agency PM+CO. I am also a member of the elite Culinary Content Network, a curated association of food writers whose work appears as part of The Daily Meal, and a monthly contributor to two online food and lifestyle publications — Spice 4 Life, based in Cape Town, South Africa, and Foods 4 Better Health, based in Ontario, Canada.

What I especially love about cooking is creating and serving great food to make my loved ones happy. Hearing mmmm’s makes my heart soar!

I grew up in suburban St. Louis, the youngest of six and the only girl. (Yes, that’s FIVE older brothers!). My mom was a great home cook and she made sure that I learned the basics and how to make a mean pie from scratch.

The LOVE – the secret ingredient Adventure

The inspiration for starting this blog came from our youngest son when he wrote this message in a Christmas gift cookbook.

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It’s true, when you cook with LOVE, everything just tastes better! And that’s what LOVE – the secret ingredient is all about. Spreading love through food.

Away from New York City for 16 years, I threw myself into cooking, dedicating my weekends to the creation of new recipes, fantastic food adventures and throwing great parties. And now it’s time to share those recipes, tips, stories and LOVE with you!

Cooking with love doesn’t require extensive knowledge, but you can gain cooking skills and confidence through practice, and without going to culinary school. The key is to cook often and pour lots of love into your creations. LOVE – the secret ingredient will do the rest, by providing the recipes, shortcuts and tips any home cook needs to make delicious food.

Who doesn’t want to make great food that brings people together, to share time, share experiences and share love?

MARY’s secret ingredients, my new challenge

After sharing my love of food with you for two years I have decided to take my passion further. That’s why I have recently launched MARY’s secret ingredients (MSI), a surprise subscription box service in which I curate new, delicious, artisanal and gourmet ingredients to delight and inspire home chefs of all experience levels.

By way of these favorite, vetted products, I hope to bring fresh ideas into home kitchens across the U.S., promoting easy cooking and healthy eating. Each season, a box of surprise goodies will be delivered to our subscribers’ doors. Back here on LOVE–the secret ingredient, I will provide a tested recipe or serving suggestion using each one of the ingredients from the box.

I am also committed to using my passion to give back, which is why a portion of the profits from MARY’s secret ingredients will be donated to the worldwide organization Feed The Children, because I believe no one should go hungry.FeedTheChildren_logo

 

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Comments

  1. Bravo Mary, congratulations on these new challenges, I wish you great success.

    Reply

  2. Mary,
    Everything has been so delicious and full of fresh stuff that I’m loving your menus. Now I need some help…I have gotten a load of green tomatoes from my son’s terrace garden and don’t want to make fried green tomatoes. Tried that and it was not a family favorite. Canning is not my thing either. I know I’m making this difficult, but I was sure you would have a creative solution. Thanks.
    I loved the brisket recipe.

    Susan

    Reply

  3. very nice Mary! your passion comes thru..since I don’t eat meat I enjoy seeing your meatless yummy dishes..I am sure the others are equally wonderful for meat eating foodies!!

    Reply

  4. Mary,
    THis blog looks great! I am not really that great a cook. I have gotten out of the habit because I work late and then seem to have appontments and things to do after work. BUt some of these look like they are very doable and that will be a great help. I have an urge to get back into cooking now and I will be a frequent visitor here. IT will be fun to try new recipes on the weekend.
    And I love your commentary! What is your ethnic background?
    Lucinda Ames

    Reply

    • Lucinda –

      So glad you’re here! Sorry for the delay in responding – I was in Boston on business today.

      These are mainly doable weeknight dinners, so please give it a try!

      I am 100% Polish. – Mary

      Reply

  6. Thank you for liking my post on nostalgic dining in Hong Kong. You have a lovely Blog and I love it because it circle a lot around food. I’ll be following it.

    Reply

    • Thank you. Yes we do have things in common! I am a big meditator as well. I just learned that Deepok recommends you ask yourself 3 questions every morning, each one followed by 2 minutes of breath, listening for the answers. The questions are: Who am I? What do I want? and What’s my focus?

      Reply

  15. This is really great Mary! The first paragraph of your ‘about’ page describes my aunt, whom I grew up with. She is illiterate so I’m spreading her love of cooking through The Pearl Kitchen 😉 Love your blog.

    Reply

  17. Your recipes sound tantalizing, and I can’t wait to try them. I’m glad your roots are in Missouri. I’m at the top of the Bootheel, but travel to STL often to visit my daughter.

    I’m honored to have you viewing my blog. Thanks for the follow!
    Kim

    Reply

  27. Hi Mary. Thank you for visiting feelingjoy and liking Slow Cooker Basil Chicken.
    Your apron…Love the secret ingredient is wonderful…Love is the secret to life as well! Did you happen to read “special ingredients to use in all your meals” (Jan. 11th) on my site? I’m learning how to use wordpress and noticed special ingredients…isn’t listed on the side anymore. Anyway, I’ve learned much over the past few years about energy…love is energy and food is energy! I plan to visit your blog again. Pam

    Reply

  40. Thanks so much for stopping by the Sunshine Scrapbook! I agree, love is the secret ingredient that separates good meals from great ones 🙂

    Reply

  41. Thank you SO much for coming by and liking my post. I’m absolutely going to follow your blog as well and try out your recipes! The secret ingredient should ALWAYS be love. I hope my someday kid will be as wonderful as yours seem to be!

    Reply

  43. Hello Mary Frances, thank you so much for following ritaLOVEStoWRITE! I hope you find some recipes and bioBLOGS in the backlog and the near future that tickle your fancy. I know I’m going to be exploring your blog in the next couple of days for some inspiration. Cheers, Rita

    Reply

  55. What a wonderful intro to you and yours! I couldn’t agree more with Zach about the importance of the most delicious “secret” ingredient! Yippie!!

    Reply

  57. Hi Mary Frances. I noticed you stopped in and liked my lamb chop recipes this morning. You have a very informative blog and I am sure I will enjoy reading it. Your son’s inscription was so dear. I have a teenage son and he comments quite often about his love for my cooking. It inspires me everyday to gather us around the table. And I know the “secret ingredient” is ever so present in our dinners!

    Reply

  58. Hi Mary Frances… thanks for reading my post about mood! I’m a big fan of LOVE and look forward to following you. The name of your blog reminds me of an episode of the Big Bang Theory. Sheldon’s mother makes a delicious apple cobbler and says “you know what the secret ingredient is?” Penny guesses “love?” the Sheldon’s mother replies “no…lard” 🙂

    Reply

  59. What an inscription!!!! What a gift you’ve given your sons. And now it looks like they’re giving back 🙂 Am enjoying your blog very much. Great name.

    Reply

  60. Hi Mary, thanks so much for visiting my blog. I love yours – it’s got such great energy and lovely recipes. And I agree. Love is definitely the secret ingredient!

    Reply

  64. I was lucky enough to experience Mary’s cooking first hand during our July visit to NYC. The food was scrumptious and the presentation was beautiful! Thank you dear Aunt for sharing your talent and love with your nephew and his family.

    love,

    jen

    Reply

  65. I saw your comment over at Ambitious Kitchen and was so excited to see someone else named Mary Frances! I constantly am having to correct the spelling (FrancEs, not FrancIs:) but I love having the double name. That note is so sweet and should be every cook/baker’s goal. I look forward to looking through your archives!

    Reply

    • Thank you Mary Frances!! I know, don’t people know that “IS” is a boy?? Hope you try some of my recipes and let me know how they work out for you. I’m looking forward to trying yours right now!

      Reply

  66. Mary Frances,
    I’m so happy to find your blog. I love it. But your about page nearly slayed me, that inscription of your son may be one of the sweetest filial things I’ve seen. Utterly charming and lovely.

    And you are a New Yorker? Doing a happy dance!

    Reply

    • 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thank you!

      I grew up in suburban St. Louis and came to New York when I was 18. So I am not a native New Yorker, but certainly a die hard one and yes, doing a happy dance!

      Reply

    • You have all the great chocolate and beer!

      My mother’s name was Sophie – but I never got my girl to name her that – I have 2 boys.

      Reply

  68. Like you, my “day job” is in branding and marketing , but what really floats my boat is time in the kitchen and getting dirty in my garden. LOVE that I’ve discovered your site, your fresh recipes and beautiful photos.

    Reply

  69. I agree that the POV of not only cooking but all actions influence the doing and the being. In particular, it seems that cooking is a way though to happiness and joy. Great blog, thank you for sharing.

    PS I post an original poem every Saturday

    Reply

  70. Dear Mary,
    I have nominated you for the I’m A Part of The WordPress Family Award. No pressure on you to acknowledge, accept or pass on this award. This is just my way of letting you know that I appreciate your blog and the hard work you put in to make it so wonderful! Please take a look at the award mention here: http://wp.me/p2WqlF-VV.
    Much love,
    Divya

    Reply

  71. Oh Mary Frances, thanks so much for your visit… it has led me to your wonderful blog! I’m looking forward to perusing your recipes and getting to know you. 🙂

    Reply

  73. Hello, I am the catering and events manager for Local Thyme Madison ave. I am hosting a Fitness, Health and Wellness networking event this Monday 11/9/15 and wanted to send you an invite. Let me know if you and a group of other professionals on your team would be interested. Food and beverages on the house.
    Curtiss w.- 214-774-7257
    Catering Manager- Local Thyme

    Reply

  75. Dear Mary,
    It was a pleasure meeting you last night. And It is a pleasure looking over this blog!! makes me terribly hungry!
    Why dont we exchange e mails…more directly. Id love you to know about our work as an Ensemble and to connect with you when you are not far off!!

    Andrew Appel (harpsichordist)
    andrewsappel@mac.com
    Four Nations Ensemble (fournations.org)

    Reply

  76. Hi
    I volunteer at my local food pantry and we will be getting a lot of fresh beets soon. Sometimes we cant get clients to take them because they only think of boiling beets. I’m trying to come up with different ways to enjoy them when I stumbled upon your recipe for Indian Spiced Beets . I’ve made them myself and they’re wondcerful. I would like your permission to distribute this recipe to our clients in hoped that they’ll take more beets. If you have any questions just ask.

    Have a great day!
    Pam Wells
    (608)-#778- 8798

    Reply

  77. First off I want to say superb blog! I had a quick question in which
    I’d like to ask if you don’t mind. I was curious to know how you center
    yourself and clear your mind before writing. I’ve had a tough time clearing my mind
    in getting my thoughts out. I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10
    to 15 minutes tend to be wasted just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or tips?

    Kudos!
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    Reply

  78. My name is Tyler Flathau and I work for a gourmet cookie manufacturer in Hattiesburg, Mississippi called Flathau’s Fine Foods. We bake different flavored shortbread cookies that are covered in powdered sugar, and they have pieces of crushed up candy inside that give it a nice crunch. I am contacting you today about possibly reviewing our cookies on your website! Let us know what you think, and we will send some samples your way! Here is a link to the website as well. https://flathausfinefoods.com/

    Reply

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