The Big Cook Authors
Pictured above from l to r: - Joanne Smith, Lorelei Thomas & Deanna Siemens

How it all began....

The Big Cook began in 1997, right when our families were expanding at a dramatic rate and cooking began to become a real challenge. Providing healthy, homemade meals became hard to do as the busy-ness of life began to take over. The three of us got together and decided to “cook en masse” creating many meals at the same time to be used on future days. The idea took off and we all came to rely on these meals throughout our hectic schedules on those days ending in the letter ”y”. Even having guests over for a wonderful meal became easier when the tasty main course was ready to be cooked.

The Big Cook has truly changed our lives when it comes to supper preparation! Between the three of us there are 11 children – 10 boys and 1 girl. Our households are full of activities; sports, music, church, etc. We can’t fully express the satisfaction of going to our freezers and having a choice of great meals available at our fingertips!



Deanna Siemens ………Deanna is married and has three children between the ages of fourteen and seventeen. Although she was once a registered nurse and homeschooled her children, she now finds herself busy studying dental assisting, doing bookkeeping and running her children between their numerous music lessons and sporting events. As a problem solver she helped develop a solution to the ever-present question of “what’s for supper?” The Big Cook has taken the work out of planning suppers and given her the freedom to spend more time enjoying the outdoors and her family.

Joanne Smith ………….Joanne is married and has four boys between the ages of seven and thirteen. In between running to hockey, football and music lessons she serves on the School Board and works as a Registered Dietitian writing a weekly Food Column for the local newspaper, taught part time at the Community College and takes on other nutrition related contracts in the community. Her passion for educating others about nutrition, and enabling them with the knowledge and means to attain a healthy lifestyle has resulted in numerous speaking engagements. Joanne enjoys developing and enhancing recipes as is evident in this book. She is anxious to share this life changing method with all those busy individuals like herself.

Lorelei Thomas ………..Lorelei is married and has four boys between the ages of eight and seventeen. With nineteen years of teaching high school math and foods classes under her belt and doing the bookkeeping for the family business, her organizational skills are truly impeccable. She is currently also teaching math and education classes at the local college. She is also thrilled to be adopting a little girl from Ethiopia in 2008! Although her boys participate in hockey, soccer, school sports and music lessons, Lorelei still finds time to travel and spend time with her extended family. Lorelei’s drive and contributions to this concept and book were invaluable as she shared her infinite talents, endless energy and commitment to the completion of this book.