Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maria Provenzano. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Maria, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents did many things to give us a great childhood, but one very simple tradition they insisted upon was sitting down to eat dinner together. Italian families are known for strong family bonds, and I genuinely believe it’s because they connect over food. As a kid, the dinner table was always a sacred place where we would talk about our day, plan for upcoming events, and connect over our mutual love for food. Looking back now as not only an adult but also a mom, I realize how much effort it took my mom to make a homemade dinner every night and how much selflessness it took for my parents to make that time about us as a family.

Everything about my career is centered around inspiring people to connect through food, shaped by the traditions created by my parents. My cookbook is centered around celebrating the every day and recognizing that the moments that appear to be small, like a weeknight dinner, are actually some of the biggest and most meaningful experiences we share in our lives together.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan. I am a Midwest girl through and through. I love the seasons and small towns. My family connected to the community through their specialty market, “Provenzano’s Market.” I was taught at a very young age that food is a great way to connect with people. My mom was always cooking, baking, and crafting with me, and it was how we spent time together and something we bonded over.

Cooking, baking, and creating were something I continued to do as a hobby. Even at Florida State, I would bring desserts to theatre rehearsals, decorate my apartment with my roommates, and constantly read about food. When I moved to California, I worked at a casting office and would bring my baking creations into the office just because!

When the “blogging” boom started, I finally had a platform to showcase and share my creations. I created my site FromScratchWithMaria.com to inspire readers to start spending time together through creativity. A producer from the Hallmark Channel’s lifestyle show, Home and Family, noticed my work and booked me on the show to do a segment. I started as a contributor to the show and then was picked up as a regular cast member. I could cook, bake, and create on television for years, and it was truly a dream come true to share my ideas with so many fans and viewers nationally.

I wanted to write a cookbook my entire life and poured my heart into the process of recipe testing, writing, and creating my book. I wrote “Everyday Celebrations From Scratch” to inspire readers to spend time together, connect and celebrate everyday moments.

I continue to cook, bake, and create on my website, my social media, and my new digital series, ‘Everyday Celebrations,” and contribute to TV shows like KTLA, Access Hollywood, and Good Morning America.

I love to create recipes and crafts that are elevated yet attainable. What sets my work apart is the connection between those two elements. My favorite projects involve the marriage of food and crafts – such as tablescapes – that incorporate the decor, food, florals, and surprise elements for any celebration. I love bringing people together around my table and connecting over food and the experience of it all. No matter how casual or elegant, the table is my favorite place to connect and share my gift with others!

After all these years of creating content, I am most proud of the fact that I still love what I do. I genuinely love every moment of the creative process. I’m so grateful that I get to pursue my hobbies as my job, building connections with family, friends, and followers every day through the process.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission in life is to encourage people to be creative. I believe that creativity equals connection, and if we spent more time connecting with our families and communities, our world would be a much happier place. I notice that the happiest people I encounter are the ones who feel purpose and connection. We all can achieve this by simply cooking our own food and sitting down to eat it together. Food is the great connector! It’s something we all need, it represents history and culture, and it’s a way of showing self-expression and love. It’s really that simple. So, if I can help to make the world we live in a happier place by encouraging people to connect through food, then I have done my job.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing others impacted by my work. Maybe it’s a recipe that becomes a staple for weeknight meals or a craft someone uses daily. I believe life’s little moments are the most important, so if I have added value to someone’s life with something I taught them to make with their own hands, then I feel highly rewarded.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fromscratchwithmaria.com
• Instagram: @fromscratchwithmaria
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-provenzano/

Image Credits
Bree McCool Leslie Grow