Hi, I’m Ava Marie Carter
Turning Chaos into Deliciousness, One 30-Minute Meal at a Time
A former kitchen disaster turned certified chef, mom of two, and your go-to guide for meals that actually get on the table.
Picture this: Me, age 22, burning a frozen pizza while my rescue Labrador, Biscuit, barked at the smoke alarm. Fast-forward 12 years, and I’ve traded takeout menus for a culinary degree, a decade of hustling in Seattle’s farm-to-table scene, and a kitchen that’s equal parts playground and war zone.
At YummyInMinutes.net, I channel my chaos into quick, no-fuss recipes that busy humans (and their hungry families) can tackle with confidence.
Think: 30-minute dinners with pantry staples, sneaky veggie-packed kid meals, and globally inspired dishes that won’t leave you Googling “what is za’atar?”
Why I Do What I Do?
As a mom to 8-year-old tornadoes (er, children) Max and Lily, I get it: Time is precious, but flavor shouldn’t suffer. My recipes are built on three rules:
No bland “dump dinners” here—just smart techniques (like my 5-Minute Magic Marinade).
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"Burn the toast, not the joy. Every meal is a chance to connect—even if it’s just you, a takeout container, and a really good fork"
Ava
Why this matters to me:
As a recovering perfectionist (see: the Great Salt-for-Sugar Cake Incident of 2012), I’ve learned that cooking isn’t about flawless plating or Instagrammable moments. It’s about showing up, whether that’s with a from-scratch lasagna or scrambled eggs eaten straight from the pan.
Thank You for Reading!
You’re the reason I do this. Seriously—every time someone tags me on Instagram with a photo of their kid actually eating broccoli or a partner bragging about their “fancy” 30-minute dinner, I do a little happy dance in my kitchen. (Yes, Biscuit judges me for it.)
Let’s keep the conversation going!
👉 Got a kitchen win or disaster to share? Drop it in the comments below—I read every one!
👉 Want more chaos-to-flavor magic? Subscribe here for free recipes that’ll make you feel like a weekday hero.
👉 Follow the madness: Join me on Instagram @YummyInMinutes for toddler-approved meal hacks and Biscuit’s latest snack heist.