All posts of Amanda Flinn

meet along the way: Deborah Drummond

This story was first published in the June 2025 issue of The Best Years as “Community Cookbook: Deborah Drummond of Jamaica makes curry chicken with potatoes and yellow lentil rice.”    Deborah Drummond grew up in Jamaica and learned to cook curry chicken from a young age. The oldest child of three in a single-parent […]
3 weeks ago

Artist Spotlight: Amy Clippard

Amy Clippard is a sous chef at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO), where she balances her time between catering for large events, cooking lessons for students, and creating new recipes and displays. Last year, she traveled to Dallas as one of 23 chefs from across the country to participate in the Women in Culinary Showcase, […]
2 months ago

meet along the way: Sonja Davis

This story was first published in the May 2025 issue of The Best Years as “Community Cookbook: Make Chicken and Dumplings With Sonja Davis.” Sonja Davis of Jackson grew up learning the ropes of farm life. Her dad raised cattle and pigs on his 500-acre farm. Chickens were ordered in the spring and butchered in […]
2 months ago

meet along the way: Melissa Turner

This story was first published in the Community Cookbook series in the February 2025 issue of The Best Years. Every Sunday, Melissa Turner of Jackson prepares food for the week ahead. She chops veggies, cooks meat and makes a casserole to be eaten on Monday. A few years ago, she added soup to the schedule […]
3 months ago

meet along the way: June O’Dell

This story was first published as part of the Community Cookbook series in the March 2025 issue of The Best Years. June O’Dell of Jackson is no stranger to the kitchen. Growing up in Patton, Mo., she learned to cook with her mom Glenda, who gardened, canned and made three homecooked meals a day. O’Dell […]
3 months ago

Artist Spotlight: Bunny Boughamer

Bunny Boughamer began drawing as soon as she was old enough to hold a crayon. Growing up in small-town Ste. Genevieve, Mo., Boughamer says being right on the river, running around the woods and being close to nature are some of her favorite memories from childhood. Today, Boughamer is in her senior year at Southeast […]
5 months ago

meet along the way: Rev. Ellen Gurnon

This story was first published as “Faces of Southeast Missouri: Rev. Ellen Gurnon” in the November 2024 issue of The Best Years. Rev. Ellen Gurnon says faith informs every part of her life. From a young child attending Sunday school and summer camps, to being elected to be a ruling elder in her 20s, to […]
5 months ago

Artist Spotlight: Mitzi Quintas-Cruz

Mitzi Quintas-Cruz is a young artist and entrepreneur on a mission to expand her Mexican-American culture in Cape Girardeau while making connections with people along the way. A senior at Cape Central High School, Quintas-Cruz says her art — homemade candles she pours in imported pottery from Mexico — helps her stay grounded, a reminder […]
8 months ago

meet along the way: Nancy Bishop and Molly Brown

By Amanda Flinn Editor’s Note: This story was first published as “Community Cookbook: Make cinnamon rolls with Nancy Bishop and Molly Brown” in the July 2024 issue of The Best Years. Nancy Bishop was born and raised in Galesburg, Ill., during the 1950s, a time when life felt simple. Her mother made their food from […]
12 months ago

meet along the way: Theresa Taylor

By Amanda Flinn Editor’s Note: This story was first published as “Faces of Southeast Missouri: Theresa Taylor” in the July 2024 issue of The Best Years. Theresa Taylor’s experiences with food insecurity started at a young age. Growing up in Bernie, Mo., she remembers her family getting assistance from local food banks and churches. Her […]
12 months ago