We had the good fortune of connecting with Shauntra Maddison and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shauntra, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I always knew that I wanted to do something with cooking but I was not sure on what to do. One day, my friend called me and asked how to make one of my dishes and it was like a light bulb went off in my head. I knew that I wanted to create a blog, one that includes easy and simple recipes that you can go to for any occasion. As a full-time working mom and wife, I don’t always have time to cook dishes that are complex or take longer than an hour to make. I need something easy, quick and delicious and I knew there were other people just like me! I did a lot of research on creating a blog and how too monetize from it. Once all of the research was complete and I was ready to get the ball rolling, I needed to come up with a name for my blog. One night as Im cooking dinner, my daughter came downstairs and asked, “mom, is dinner ready?” Another light bulb went off in my head and I yelled “that’s it!” Is Dinner Ready? was created!!!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am all about simple and easy ingredients. You do not have to include a million ingredients to make a delicious meal! The simple the better in my opinion. That is what sets me apart from current recipe creators out right now. Everything is so complex and my recipes are simple and easy but still has all of the flavors and delicious. More than half of the recipes in my cookbook have a cook time of 30 minutes or less. I am most proud about being featured on Food Network’s cooking competition show, Big Bad Budget Battle. Even though I did not win the competition, it allowed me to challenge myself and I got to meet some wonderful people. Being a content creator on social media opens a world where anyone can voice their opinion. In the beginning, that was a challenge for me. I never thought anyone would have negative things to say about food, but I was wrong. For every 100 positive comments, there are at least 5 negative comments and those negative comments can cut deep. There was one recipe that I created that got a lot of negative feedback and it was making me rethink all that I have done. I prayed about it and talked to my husband and he made me realize that people will always have something to say. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, someone will always have an opinion about you. So, I continue to give it my all and have no regrets. I know that my mom is smiling down on me and my family and friends are supporting me every step of the way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Since I live in McKinney, Texas, I love hanging out in Legacy West or The Star. There are many different restaurants with a variety of food and drink options to choose from and you can also get some shopping done. Currently, my favorite restaurants (not located in Legacy West or The Star) that I go to whenever I want to splurge on the cost are Drake’s and Town Hearth. I love a good steak or pasta dish and those 2 restaurants never let me down.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my mommy, my angel. She taught me how to cook at a young age and it stuck with me. When I was in High School, my mom picked up a hobby in playing Bingo. Every night, she would put a chicken in the oven and tell me to grab some canned goods to cook in a pot for our side dish. My dad and I were officially done with eating baked chicken and I knew I had to do something about it. I started checking out cookbooks at the library and watch cooking shows to gain knowledge on different foods and flavors. I started experimenting and was able to cook by myself and it was actually delicious! My dad was my first taste tester and once my mom realized that I could cook, she just stopped cooking and had me do all of the cooking LOL. Even though she is not here physically, I know she is always by my side spiritually. I also would like to dedicate my shoutout to my husband and daughter, they are my biggest supporters. My husband has been right by my side the entire time and I couldn’t do any of this without him. For my daughter to be able to watch all of my hard work paying off, is a huge blessing. It shows her that whatever you put your mind too, it can be done.

Website: www.isdinner-ready.com

Instagram: @isdinner_ready

Facebook: @isdinnerready

Youtube: Is Dinner Ready?

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.