Renee Cardaci simply wants to share her love of cooking—and millions of views later, she's helping home cooks everywhere feel more confident in the kitchen.

In this episode, Renee shares how her journey began after her first child left for college and how a passion for cooking turned into the beloved Cooking With Renee brand. The conversation covers favorite kitchen tools, must-have ingredients, and the dishes she loves making most.

Renee also shares what she's learned from traveling, especially her trips to Italy, where she discovered a deeper appreciation for traditional food culture.

We also discuss raising children around food, introducing different flavors from an early age, and why family meals can shape eating habits for years to come. Plus, Renee reveals some of her favorite restaurants, and the exciting cookbook project currently in the works.

And because no Mid-Life Mafia conversation is complete without a little real talk, we dive into the realities of midlife—from sleep struggles and hot flashes to bloating, emotions, and navigating the changes that nobody fully prepares you for.

In this episode:

• How Renee started Cooking with Renee
• Finding a new passion after the kids grow up
• Building a social media cooking brand
• Creating food videos and recipes
• Favorite kitchen gadgets and cooking tools
• Garlic, olive oil, and pantry essentials
• Renee's favorite dishes to make
• Raising adventurous eaters
• Favorite restaurants and dining experiences
• Renee's upcoming cookbook
• Midlife, menopause, sleep, and hot flashes

Enjoyed this conversation? Be sure to like, subscribe, and share this episode with the food lover in your life.

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Podcast editing by https://podcastmagician.com/