Meet Ashlee

Part One

As a child, I couldn’t wait for the latest copy of Good Housekeeping to arrive in the mail for one reason: the recipes. I would frantically flip through my mother’s magazine with the hope of finding the tear-out recipe from the middle. Even as a child, the mere thought of making a new meal from scratch, or essentially going on a culinary adventure, brought me so much delight and joy. Maybe it was the transformative process of combining food, resulting in a beautiful and delicious final product that enticed me? Or perhaps it was sharing what I had created with my loved ones. Narrowing down one specific reason to define the impact of those little recipe cards will probably never happen, but I do know now the joy I get from creating food from a recipe should be shared with others. Nowadays, I can get lost in cookbooks, even if it’s one I never intend to buy or use. I could spend hours at the local thrift book store searching for a cookbook different from what I already have, simply to lovingly gaze at the photos and ingredients. Well-crafted photos of food ensembled with witty commentary and memories are so enthralling to me. Like, right there on the page is not only a masterpiece, but the step-by-step instructions on how to recreate it! Oh, the divine power of a recipe.

Over the years and through many of life’s twists and turns, I have developed, stumbled upon, crafted and failed my way into what is now this place, Everything’s Albright. My many jobs, environments, experiences and people I’ve met along the way play a role in how all of this came to be. One of my most impressionable experiences started about nine and a half years ago in Littleton, Colorado. It lasted less than a year, but its impact can be equated to the wisdom of a grandparent, gained through trial and error, triumph and defeat.

At the time, my husband and I were living in the Denver area where he was attending seminary, and I decided to take a much-needed break from teaching middle school. Knowing I needed a job, but clueless as to where to land, I found myself searching the online job board at Brandon’s school. Truth be told, I was seeking something along the lines of tutoring or even nannying, but it was one job posting that captivated me with its words, reading: do you love Jesus, kids, and cooking? If so, this job is for you!” Whispering to myself, “yes, yes, YES!”, these words not only resonated with me, but spoke to my heart and sense of purpose. The eight-year-old Ashlee had been awakened. Yet, the the job was a lunch program coordinator, and ideally required a person with culinary experience. As you may know from the website, I hold no such degree or experience. But it didn’t stop me. 

I thought about it, prayed about it, and when I was sure no one else was taking the position (it was listed for at least three months), I decided to give it a whirl. My email stated: I have no culinary degree or experience, but I am a hard-worker and fast learner. I do indeed love Jesus, kids, and food, and would love the opportunity to apply. After sending the email, submitting some recipes and answering some questions, I was on my way to becoming the Lunch Program Coordinator for a private Christian School, aka I became the lunch lady! A title deemed worthy, I’ll tell ya! It was there where I discovered my passion for not only cooking and serving, but for creatively cooking with whatever I had, and meal planning for the masses. With the help of parent volunteers and my boss, we cooked for and served hundreds of kids per week. It was exhilarating, messy, stressful, humbling, and demanding, yet I grew more in that year than I could’ve ever imagined. The students taught me loads about what kids will eat, what they desire in general, and how truly hungry teenage boys can be (I’m still puzzled at how a freshman boy could eat four, 12-inch tortilla-sized enchiladas and still ask for more)! To this day, I marvel at the Lunch Lady job; the fact I had the opportunity, possibly one of a lifetime, to create a program for the school, which in turn fueled my inner passions, thus helping to mold the foundational forces of Everything’s Albright.

Nine and a half years ago, had you told me I’d be starting a website containing a blog, meal planning, recipes and consulting, I would have laughed. Or maybe I would’ve been offended. Or nervously denied it while secretly wishing you were telling the truth. Whatever the reaction, I can say with clear confidence I would have seen this coming as much as the possibility of time travel. Placing my trust in the Lord, getting outside of my comfort zone, and being willing to get to work has landed me here. A place where my mixed-bag-of-talents (as I call it) have a home and a purpose. A home where I am certain others will resonate with me, relate to me, and allow me to help them because when the day comes to a close, they’re just like me: a mom with a full-plate who’s searching. Searching like I was nine and a half years ago. But instead of becoming a lunch lady, you will hopefully become a better version of yourself, one moment, meal, and glorious day at a time.