Everything's Good

Introduction

This cookbook is meant for you. Although I may not know your background or your story, if you have this book in your hands, I know that you share my passion for incredible, memorable comfort food.

The food in this book is all about the dishes that feel nostalgic, homey, and familiar, like you’re cozied up in a warm sweater. What you crave during Sunday Scaries, Thirsty Thursdays, and everything in between. The favorites that both you and I grew up loving. These recipes are worthy of your gettogethers with your friends and family with really high standards who will never let you forget showing up with dry mac and cheese, so you must come correct. You will be able to walk into any party with your head held high—whether you’re carrying my stunning Spinach, Crab, and Artichoke–Stuffed Shrimp (page 39), Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Bread (page 35), Brioche Bread Pudding (page 212), or any number of other dishes—excited for everyone to devour the masterpiece you made because everything’s good.

These recipes will set you up for a lifetime of comforting, impressing, partying, and finding solace during tough times. As you nail one after the other, you’ll see why the title of this book is about so much more than just incredible food. It’s also about how a joyful attitude can empower you through any challenge thrown your way—in and out of the kitchen. In these pages, you’ll find the pollo guisado that I grew up with, the creamy shrimp and crab–stuffed shells that my guests raved about for weeks, and the chicken and dumplings that always feels like a big warm hug.

Before I became themoodyfoody on social media, with a five-million-plus fan base who love my viral recipes, I was just the girl next door facing a lot of challenges on this journey called life. Raised by a single father in the inner city, I experienced a lot of adversity. But no matter what, I always remained positive. During tough times when I couldn’t afford gifts for people I loved, I turned to cooking, finding that a bottle of homemade Coquito (page 169) or a plate of fried chicken was worth more than any present. When my career in finance came to an abrupt end, I started a small business serving beautifully prepared lunches from my home, which eventually grew into a successful family business. And in my career as a recipe developer, I always focused on making everything better, which sometimes meant turning mistakes into masterpieces or tweaking a recipe thirty times before it was worthy enough to share with my fans. I always did my best—in the kitchen and in life.

In my many moments of pain but also happiness, food has always brought me healing, peace, and purpose, and I wrote this cookbook to help you experience the same.