We recently connected with Kyshira Simmons and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyshira, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

Like many of today’s greatest ideas, mine has origins in social media. As a young girl, I’ve always been intrigued by food, from watching it be made, to seeing the outcome, and most of all consuming it. I would watch cooking competitions on tv, help prepare breakfast and dinner for my family, and even at one point sold cupcakes in high school. I had a love for baking, so much so you could call me Betty Crocker’s bestie. At the grocery store, going down the baking aisle was one of my favorite things to do so I could make muffins, brownies, cakes, try new icings, and everything else you can think of that contained mass amounts of sugars.

When I moved to college, I was on a unique meal plan to save money on my tuition costs, but shout out to refund checks because I had a good amount of real money, which I used to buy groceries. However, being a party of one, but used to cooking family-sized meals, I often had lots of leftovers, which I would gladly share with my college friends. I would also post meals I made on my Instagram/snapchat stories which prompted people to ask “girl, how you make that,” and each time I gladly shared my recipe.

One day a friend who enjoyed my posts and recipes suggested I make an Instagram dedicated to posting my food and recipes as a one-stop shop for those to use and enjoy. I took this decision to prayer and by February 8, 2020, I had my first post on Instagram. From here, the pandemic had its way, but it worked out in my favor because now I had more time to try new recipes! So I began consistently making posts, promoting Jesus through my recipes, and honestly just having fun in the kitchen. This gained the attention of others and I’ve even had a few posts go viral since then!

Later on, I began receiving inquiries from my church family to cater, which I gladly took on. With these great opportunities, also meant more responsibility to register myself as a business. So I began to do research on food safety licenses, catering tips and tricks, LLC’s, food and consumption laws in my state, and what in the world an invoice was. I officially was able to register my business in December 2020. Since then I’ve grown both in my creativity and professionalism as a business owner.

Now Kee’s Kitchen, LLC, Where Food Meets Fun, exists to bridge the gap between food, fun, and faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, through spirit-inspired teachings, recipe creation, and various food preparation services.

Kyshira, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Currently, Kee’s Kitchen is known for sharing free recipes and creating unique and tasty flavor combinations like peach cobbler egg rolls, cinnamon roll cookies, and honey garlic salmon. Some of my favorite foods to make include poundcake, macaroni & cheese, and banana pudding (if you know you know). I think what I am most proud of brand wise, is the fact that Kee’s Kitchen was created simply to share free recipes with others and promote Christ along the way, but by His faithfulness, I have been able to also benefit monetarily in my business through small business grants, dessert sales, and occasional catering. It has been a blessing to witness God’s faithfulness in my business and even when I wanted to give up and stop, by waiting, trusting, and hoping in the Lord, He has renewed my strength each time.

I want readers to know that at the heart of Kee’s Kitchen is a strong desire to teach and empower others to find the fun in cooking tasty food with a continuous emphasis and gaze towards Christ as my help and your help too! I want people who encounter Kee’s Kitchen to understand that when you commit your work unto the Lord, He will establish your plans, even if your work is to master a chocolate chip cookie recipe (true story lol). While I love cooking and sharing my gift with others directly, I have a passion to teach others how to do the same in their own homes, and with their own families and friends.

Kee’s Kitchen can currently be found on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, with hopes for a website in the future.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Since my business began on social media, one thing has truly helped is consistency. Now I will be honest, I have not always been consistent, and I’ve seen the fruit of it and vice versa. Also, I think staying true to yourself and your “why” behind your business. My “why” has always been to help others through the help Jesus gives me. Where social media is now a place to sometimes gatekeep, do everything for profit, and operate in secrecy, I knew God always wanted this to be a business that benefits His people, both those who know Him as Lord and Saviour and those who haven’t yet.

On social media, whatever’s trending is usually what everyone gravitates to. However, I trust that despite what’s trending I have the backing of God, so even if everyone is doing it, if God didn’t give me a yes, then it won’t happen. Sometimes that looks like missing opportunities, not using the latest sounds or most popular songs, or even taking breaks from social media, but staying true to what God has said concerning me and Kee’s Kitchen is what I value the most.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I think a lesson I’ve had to unlearn is the motto that hard work produces results, so if you’re not working hard you won’t see fruit. While I do believe that without work you won’t always see the fruit of your labor, more than your hard work, we really need a strategy, resilience, and direction from God. Psalm 127:1 says “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

I’ve learned that it is not about the amount of work that goes into my business, as much as it is about God directing the work of my business and submitting to His yes or no.

Growing up, I was a very “I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E….” you know the rest type of girl. So naturally, what I wanted is what I did, without needing much permission or validation from anyone else. However, now that I live a life submitted to Christ, this means not only did He save me on the cross becoming my saviour, but when He rose and defeated death, hell, and the grave He also became my Lord, this is why we call Him Lord & Saviour. What I do in my personal life but also with my business, must be from a place of submission and reverence to Him. Without that, then I won’t see fruit.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keeskitchenwfmf/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keeskitchenwfmf
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/keeskitchenwfmf
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCagwBMURrIOcDlk73XCqkiw