The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Episode: 1KHO 573: Life is Good Today | Danielle Kartes, The Best Kids Cookbook
Host: Ginny (A) | Guest: Danielle Kartes (B), Cookbook Author & TV Chef
Release Date: September 15, 2025
Network: That Sounds Fun Network

Episode Overview

In this joy-filled and deeply encouraging episode, host Ginny welcomes cookbook author and TV chef Danielle Kartes to discuss resilience, faith, family, and her latest work, The Best Kids Cookbook. The episode covers Danielle's remarkable journey—from career setbacks to national TV, the importance of perseverance, and the transformative power of home-cooked meals and time together as a family. With practical wisdom, laughter, and heart, Danielle inspires listeners to embrace life as it unfolds, make peace with imperfection, and see dinner time as a centerpiece of love and connection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Living and Finding Joy “Now”

• Danielle emphasizes the importance of embracing life as it is, instead of waiting for perfect circumstances to be happy.
  • "We really teach people that life is good today. Not if or when... We gotta live right now, for right now with the Lord, period." (B, 02:39)
• She shares how her purpose is to reach hearts, introducing others to Jesus through the love of food and the stories behind it.

2. Danielle’s Journey: Loss, Perseverance, Miracles

• Danielle recounts losing her restaurant, financial hardship, and vowing never to cook again, only to find herself roasting vegetables for her son and reigniting her love for cooking (06:10–08:00).
  • The experience led to her first self-published cookbook—born out of necessity and faith.
  • Remarkable “Costco miracle” story: through a chance encounter while working as a makeup artist, Danielle meets a Costco book buyer, pitches her self-published cookbook, and—after persistent follow-up—lands a spot on Costco shelves, despite industry insiders dismissing her chances.
    • "I have the best PR guy in the whole world. His name is Jesus. He absolutely loves me. I barely graduated high school. I have no formula or a secret sauce for you..." (B, 13:25)
• Her bold perseverance (literally calling, dropping the book off, repeatedly reaching out to TV producers) opens doors to TV appearances and continued success.
  • "For any child listening, too, don't take no for an answer. Sometimes, just because something's hard doesn't mean the Lord didn't bring you to it." (B, 23:55)

3. Perseverance & Purpose for Kids and Adults

• Danielle shares advice about perseverance for both kids and adults.
  • "Don't let anybody tell you that you can't, because maybe you're going to invent something incredible... God can do so much. If you say yes, get yourself there for everybody. It's not just me. We're not the special people." (B, 14:23)
  • She highlights that success doesn't mean fame; fulfillment is using your unique gifts for God's glory.
• Teaches kids not to outgrow confidence and creativity, encouraging parents to nurture these traits.

4. Faith, Healing, and Identity

• Danielle is candid about overcoming broken expectations, loss, and hardship through faith.
  • "You can never lose who you are in Jesus, period. Full stop. We can lose our way a little bit, but..." (B, 05:02)
  • Shares personal stories about bankruptcy, marriage struggles, and healing after loss through the comfort of the Holy Spirit (32:55–34:35).
  • "If we can harness the power of the Holy Spirit... we can get on the other side of it and see Jesus in all of it and become unshakable." (B, 34:35)

5. Cooking as a Vehicle for Connection and Growth

• Food is just the vehicle—her deeper mission is to feed souls and connect families.
  • "God just chose cooking as a vehicle so that I could share with people how much they were worth." (B, 23:03)
• She describes practical ways of bringing kids into the kitchen:
  • Teaching critical thinking (“Flip it or skip it” substitutions)
  • Life skills: meal planning, seasoning, adjusting recipes, and improvising
    • "What teaches you how to cook is like thinking on your feet... What do I have? How can I pull it together?" (B, 41:45)
• Repetition and rhythm matter: creating rituals around meals builds security and belonging.

6. Reframing Dinner Time

• Danielle reclaims dinner as a celebration rather than a source of daily stress:
  • "Dear Dinner Time, we love you." (B, 51:15)
  • Encourages families to let go of perfection and expectation—repetition is fine; connection is the goal.
    • "It's more important that people remember how they feel when they ate around me or in my home than what I fed them." (B, 54:49)

7. Family Table, Rhythm, and Community

• The importance of eating together extends beyond food:
  • Research cited on family dinners and child well-being (56:19)
  • Healing through rhythm and ritual—regular meals providing comfort and security, especially for children recovering from trauma (57:07–61:47).
• Discussion of intergenerational support and the value of community in raising children.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Living with Courage and Faith:

  • "Just because something's hard doesn't mean you should stop now." – Danielle, (23:55)
  • "My husband doesn't complete me. The Lord does. We're... just compliment each other." – Danielle, (14:23)

• On Costco Miracle:

  • "I dropped that book off with a little one page summary on why Costco. And three months later she called me and she said, it's beautiful... that decision changed my life." – Danielle, (10:01–12:10)

• On Food as Connection:

  • "The cake is fine... What's the secret? The secret is, do you know that your life is not worthless?" – Danielle, (21:33)

• On Resilience for Kids:

  • "I never grew out of it. My kids will never grow out of what they think they can do." – Danielle, (14:23)
  • "Why not us? Why not you? Kids are listening." – Danielle, (24:24)

• On Perseverance:

  • "I'm a hanger on-er. I will hang off until the Lord picks me off and says, oh, no, you sit down. That determination is my greatest blessing and sometimes a curse." – Danielle, (29:40)

• On Reframing Dinner:

  • "Dear Dinner Time, we love you... I did want to teach kids, like, dinner time can be a super not stressful thing. We plan ahead a little bit, or even if we don't, you get a big old bowl of hot water and pull the frozen meat out of the freezer and stick it in the hot water." – Danielle, (51:15–51:52)

• On Giving and Community:

  • "That's one of my superpowers, is making you dinner and bringing it to you." – Danielle, (45:11)

• On Childhood Memories:

  • "Gardening with my mom or going down to the creek... barefoot on the slimy rocks... pinnacle childhood fun memory for me." – Danielle, (65:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:39 – Danielle on living joyfully “now.”
• 06:10–08:00 – The restaurant closing and rekindling a love for cooking.
• 09:58–14:23 – The Costco publishing miracle and breakthrough to TV.
• 23:55–27:26 – Wisdom for kids and adults about perseverance, creative confidence, and finding your purpose.
• 32:43–34:36 – Healing from loss, broken expectations, and the comfort of faith.
• 41:45–43:55 – Teaching kids life and kitchen skills; critical thinking in the kitchen.
• 51:15–52:18 – “Dear Dinner Time, we love you”: Reframing the family meal.
• 54:49 – The feeling that remains when friends/family eat together.
• 56:19–61:47 – The necessity of rhythm, routine, and the family table for kids’ well-being.

Practical Takeaways for Listeners

• Persevere with Purpose: Don’t take "no" for an answer if you believe in your calling—find creative ways to knock on new doors, even when the conventional path seems closed.
• See Failure as Redirection: What feels like the end (job loss, closed doors) may be the very thing that leads to a better, God-driven future.
• Bring Kids into the Kitchen: Use meals as a means of teaching life skills—planning, improvising, and sharing responsibility.
• Foster Connection with Rituals: Shared meals, family table time, and communal traditions are critical for children’s growth, security, and healing.
• Embrace Imperfection: It’s okay to repeat meals, use substitutions, or keep things simple—connection is what matters most.

Resources and Notable Mentions

• Books:
  • The Best Kids Cookbook – Danielle Kartes
  • You Are Always There – Danielle Kartes (memoir)
  • Meant to Share – Danielle Kartes (meals for sharing)
• Danielle’s Website: rusticjoyfulfood.com
• Research/Authors mentioned: Arthur Brooks, Leonard Sacks, Dr. Bruce Perry

Closing Question

Ginny closes each episode by asking guests about their favorite outdoor childhood memory. Danielle recalls time in the garden and at the creek with her mom, underscoring the episode’s theme: simple, real experiences—shared with loved ones—are a legacy beyond measure.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone needing hope, encouragement, or practical help in feeding their family—both body and soul.