About Me

From Mam’s Kitchen to cookingwithmam.com: My Story

If you had told me when I was seven years old—perched on a wooden stool in my grandmother’s kitchen, hands sticky with dough—that one day I’d create my own cooking website, I probably would’ve giggled and said, “Only if there’s pie.” But life has a funny way of connecting the dots. And here I am, all these years later, writing to you from a cozy kitchen filled with love, stories, and recipes passed down through generations.

My name is Clara Hayes, and I’m the creator of cookingwithmam.com, a site born from memories, family traditions, and a deep love for real food made with care.

Growing Up Around Food, Not Just Meals

I grew up in a small town where home-cooked meals weren’t just a daily routine—they were a way of life. We didn’t have fancy restaurants, delivery apps, or a fridge full of takeout boxes. What we had was Mam—my grandmother—and her unwavering dedication to feeding everyone who walked through her door.

Mam didn’t have formal culinary training, but what she lacked in credentials, she made up for in soul. Her kitchen was where birthdays, holidays, Sunday afternoons, and even rainy Tuesdays happened. Everything centered around her food. And more importantly, her food centered around care.

I remember the way she’d hum old songs while chopping onions, or the soft clink of her wooden spoon against a worn-out pot. I remember flour on her apron, fresh herbs drying by the window, and the smell of her famous chicken and dumplings bubbling away on the stove. As a child, I didn’t realize I was learning—I thought I was just “helping Mam.” But every time I stirred the pot, mashed the potatoes, or watched her knead dough, I was absorbing something far greater than instructions. I was learning how to cook with heart.

My First Recipe (Spoiler: It Was a Mess)

I think I was about ten when I decided I was ready to make something “all by myself.” It was supposed to be a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I had seen Mam do it hundreds of times, so I figured it couldn’t be that hard. I didn’t bother measuring anything, I added way too much baking soda, and I mistook salt for sugar (a classic). When they came out of the oven, they were flat, bitter, and kind of terrifying. Mam didn’t laugh. She just sat down beside me, took a bite (yes, really!), and said, “Well, Clara, now you know what not to do. Let’s try again.”

That moment stuck with me more than any recipe ever could. It taught me that failure in the kitchen is never final—it’s just part of the story. And if you keep showing up, keep stirring, keep tasting, eventually… you’ll get it right.

Food Became My Love Language

As I got older, cooking became more than just a hobby. It became a way to connect with people. In college, I didn’t have much money, but I had a crockpot and Mam’s beef stew recipe. I used it often. It brought my roommates together, made study nights cozier, and got me through homesick weekends.

Later, when I moved out on my own, I found myself collecting cookbooks like some people collect records. But no matter how many I owned, I always came back to Mam’s little handwritten notebook, smudged and stained, pages curled from steam and spills. It was simple—but it was real.

I began experimenting—adding a modern twist here, adjusting for new dietary needs there. But the heart of every recipe remained rooted in that same sense of comfort and connection.

The Spark That Started It All

During the pandemic, something shifted. Like many people, I found myself turning inward—toward the things that brought joy, stability, and purpose. I was baking more. Cooking more. Sharing photos of my meals with friends. And every time someone asked for a recipe, I ended up typing out long emails full of little tips, substitutions, and anecdotes.

One day, a friend said, “You should really start a blog, Clara. People would love this.”

I shrugged it off at first. Me? A blog? I didn’t even know the difference between a plugin and a widget. But the idea stayed with me. For weeks, I kept coming back to it—what if I created a place to share Mam’s recipes? What if I could help someone else find joy in the kitchen, the way I did?

That’s when I opened a notebook (a clean one this time), and I started sketching out what would become cookingwithmam.com.

Building Something from Scratch (Again)

Starting a website wasn’t easy. I had to learn how to take food photos, write recipe instructions clearly, deal with tech hiccups, and navigate SEO (which felt like learning a foreign language). But at every step, I kept coming back to my why:

To create a warm, welcoming space where anyone—regardless of skill level—can feel at home in the kitchen.

I didn’t want fancy or intimidating. I wanted real. I wanted the kind of recipes you’d make in pajamas on a Sunday morning or after a long workday. Recipes that don’t require 20 ingredients or three trips to the store. Recipes that feel like a hug.

What You’ll Find on cookingwithmam.com

Since launching CookingWithMam, my mission has been clear: to share the kind of food that brings people together. The kind that gets passed down, not because it’s trendy, but because it’s loved.

On my site, you’ll find:

• Family-style comfort food (think casseroles, soups, skillet meals)
• Easy desserts that taste like they took hours, but didn’t
• Simple, no-fuss recipes made with pantry staples
• Microwave-friendly meals (because life’s busy)
• Tips from Mam’s kitchen — like how to revive a dry cake or make gravy without lumps
• Little stories woven into each post, because every dish has a memory attached to it

CookingWithMam isn’t just about recipes. It’s about honoring where we come from, the hands that taught us, and the moments that turn a meal into a memory.

The Most Meaningful Messages

Since launching the blog, I’ve received messages from readers who made one of Mam’s pies for the first time and felt like they were back in their childhood kitchen. People who never thought they could cook, but followed a simple recipe and surprised themselves. Parents cooking with their kids. Grandmothers sharing my recipes with their daughters.

Those messages mean the world to me. They remind me that food isn’t just about taste—it’s about feeling. And if my little corner of the internet can bring even a sliver of that feeling to someone else’s home, then I know Mam would be proud.

What’s Next?

My journey with CookingWithMam is just beginning. I have so many recipes I still want to share, including some I’ve just recently unearthed from old family cookbooks. I’m working on new seasonal collections, a newsletter full of cozy kitchen tips, and even a free mini eBook of Mam’s favorite desserts.

But more than anything, I just want to keep showing up. Keep sharing. Keep cooking with heart.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it this far—thank you. Truly. Thank you for taking the time to learn about my story, my family, and why this blog exists.

Whether you’re here to try a new casserole, make a birthday cake, or just feel a little closer to home, I hope you find something on CookingWithMam that makes your day a bit warmer.

From my kitchen to yours,
— Clara Hayes