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.

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midlifemafia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midlifemafiapodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MidLifeMafia

Website: https://midlifemafia.com/

Follow Renee 👇

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cooking_with_renee_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cooking_with_renee_/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cooking_with_renee_

Podcast editing by https://podcastmagician.com/