About me

Hi there, I’m Lila Jean Montgomery, and if you’re here, I’m guessing you love the comforting magic of a slow cooker just as much as I do. I’m 56 years old, born and raised in Helena, Montana, where the air smells like pine and the winters last long enough to turn anyone into a soup lover. I’ve lived in the same cozy house for the past 30 years, and it’s seen everything from holiday feasts to quiet dinners for one, all simmering gently in the background.

I wasn’t born into a family of chefs or food critics—my mama taught third grade, and my daddy ran a small auto repair shop. But every Sunday, like clockwork, the house would fill with the smell of something bubbling low and slow—pulled pork, chicken stew, or a vegetable soup thick enough to stand a spoon in. That’s where my love affair with slow cooking began.

At 19, I married my high school sweetheart, David, and while we didn’t have much, we had a Crock-Pot and a whole lot of beans and rice. I learned fast how to stretch a dollar without sacrificing flavor. What started out of necessity became my culinary north star. There’s something so honest about letting flavors take their time, mingling and deepening while life hums along.

Over the years, I’ve cooked for four hungry kids, two exchange students, and one skeptical mother-in-law who eventually admitted my brisket was better than hers. I’ve burned things (including an entire pot of chili once because I forgot to plug the darn thing in), experimented with flavors from around the world, and hosted potlucks where neighbors asked for seconds before they finished their first.

To me, slow cooking is about more than convenience. It’s about trust. You put your faith in a little pot, walk away, and come back to something that tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen—because in a way, you did. It’s about feeding people even when life is busy, messy, or just plain hard.

Now, with a little more time on my hands and a heart still full of kitchen stories, I share my recipes and mishaps with anyone who wants to listen. Whether you’re a beginner who just unboxed your first slow cooker or a seasoned pro looking for a new twist on pot roast, I hope my journey gives you a little inspiration—and maybe a shortcut to something delicious.