The Slick Family

If we haven’t met yet, welcome! If we have met before, you already know I’m thrilled you’re here.

The Slick Family was established in 2007 when Brian and I got married. That same year, I graduated with my Elementary Education degree and began my career teaching 7th grade Language Arts and Social Studies. We spent a few years traveling and settling into our careers before starting a family. Today, we have two busy kids (15 and 12) who play travel hockey and lacrosse, plus a full house of pets — dogs, guinea pigs, fish, and even a tortoise. Life is full, but we carve out as much family time as we can between games, practices, and everything in between.

My journey into the cooking world started in my 7th year of teaching, when I stepped away from the classroom after a struggle with anxiety and depression. Staying home with my then 3.5- and 1-year-old gave me space to regroup and focus on my family — but I still craved a creative challenge. I joined Pampered Chef as a consultant, where I discovered I could blend my love for teaching with my passion for cooking. Hosting freezer meal workshops and cooking parties gave me the joy of helping families gain not just the right tools, but the confidence to use them.

In 2021, I left Pampered Chef to create a different kind of classroom — one that could reach beyond my local community. Classroom Kitchen became my way to teach hands-on cooking classes through libraries, park districts, and virtual programs. The shift to online classes during COVID allowed me to connect with kitchens across the country (and even a few internationally!), offering affordable, accessible programs without the limits of travel time or ingredient costs.

These days, I balance my role as a full-time 6th–8th grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher with my role as a cooking instructor. I’m passionate about helping people of all ages gain skills and confidence in the kitchen while making mealtime a source of connection instead of stress.

Cooking has transformed my own family. My 12-year-old son, once an incredibly picky eater, now tries new flavors, requests foods he used to avoid, and even cooks for his friends. His favorite influencer is chef Nick DiGiovanni, and for Christmas he asked for his own chef’s knife and apron. My 15-year-old daughter often volunteers to make dinner two or three nights a week. Even my husband jokes that restaurant meals sometimes pale in comparison to what comes out of our kitchen.

For me, food is more than just sustenance — it’s a bridge between generations, cultures, and life experiences. My own childhood memories are filled with Friday night pizza-making with my dad, his perfect grilled cheese on rye with homemade steak fries, and my mom’s slow-simmered Sunday soups and roasts (I even had Sunday dinner at their house while in early labor with my first child!). These meals weren’t just delicious — they were moments of connection, laughter, and love.

That’s the heart of Classroom Kitchen: bringing people together around food, building skills, and creating memories that last far beyond the table. If you haven’t joined me over on Facebook, make sure you hop over there. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube! I have lots more recipes and family fun activities at each place!