Allrecipes Cook to Follow: Nora Roy

SunnyDaysNora is one of 60 million home cooks in our Allrecipes community. Like so many of our community members, she uses recipes and tips from Allrecipes to feed her family, share with friends, and create lasting memories. Learn more about Nora and the recipes she comes back to again and again!

Also known as: Nora Roy, 39 from Taylor, Texas

Allrecipes community member since: September 2009

Day jobs: Homemaker and popcorn purveyor.

Who I cook for: Myself, my family (husband, son, and daughter), my friends, my husband's coworkers — pretty much anyone I can feed!

Fascinating facts about me: I'm from California but have lived in the South (Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas) for years. I served in the U.S. Air Force as an air traffic controller. I can touch my tongue to my nose, but I can't make it a taco shape. Creating new, fun popcorn flavors and gifting them is one of my favorite things to do.

Best cook I know: My dad, Steve Martin (the mayor of Paso Robles, California, not the actor—although they did once have dinner together). Dad made us pancakes on Saturdays and got creative with ingredients for dinner. Sometimes the recipes flopped. Sometimes they were amazing. But watching him experiment was an inspiration. His tangerine meringue pie is legendary!

What's in my fridge right now: Lots and lots of condiments. The door is stuffed to capacity with everything from fish sauce to Dijon mustard. Leftovers. Lots of milk for my munchkins. Yogurt. Tons of veggies — my produce drawer is never big enough to hold them all.

Dish I make that others like most: Asian Orange Chicken. It's always a huge hit.

Favorite kitchen advice: Be undaunted. Like Julia Child said, "In cooking, you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude."

Food discoveries that changed my life: Though sriracha has saved many a bad recipe, Penzey's Florida Seasoned Pepper is my go-to ingredient for finishing dishes. There are few things better than an avocado sprinkled with that pepper and drizzled with white balsamic vinegar. And here's a great shortcut: shred cooked chicken in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. It takes seconds and turns out perfectly every time!

What I like most about Allrecipes: Whether you choose to engage with others through Ask the Community or just by reading reviews by other real people that have made a recipe before you, there is a true sense of belonging and community among members that I love.

Follow SunnyDaysNora on Allrecipes.

This could be you! Who's your favorite cook on Allrecipes.com? Email us at [email protected] to nominate yourself or another fascinating community member for a future Cook 2 Follow column. Include a link to the nominee's Allrecipes.com profile, and you'll make our day.

See more Allrecipes Cooks to Follow.