Sunny Anderson Bio

While Sunny grew up traveling the world as an Army brat, her parents always encouraged her to indulge in the local cuisine. When she joined the Air Force as a radio broadcaster and journalist, she continued her trek through the world for news stories while indulging in culinary finds along the way. After leaving the Air Force as an award-winning broadcaster, she continued her travels as a radio DJ in many cities, culminating in her dream job in New York at a No. 1 rated radio station. There, she began cooking for her friends in the entertainment business and turned her hobby and growing client list into a catering company. That led to a guest appearance on Food Network’s Emeril Live! in 2005, and shortly after, she left her radio career and closed her catering business to focus on chasing yet another dream: sharing her recipes with the Food Network audience. Her first show, Gotta Get It, a food gadget show, premiered in 2007, followed by Cooking for Real, How'd That Get On My Plate and Home Made in America with Sunny Anderson. She's currently a co-host on The Kitchen. Her cooking style combines classic comfort foods along with unique flavors inspired by her many travels. With an understanding of everyday life and the belief that real people deserve down-to-earth, delicious meals, Sunny offers real food for real life. In September 2013, she released her New York Times best-selling debut cookbook, Sunny’s Kitchen: Easy Food for Real Life (Clarkson Potter). Sunny lives in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, with her rescue pets.

Cook with Sunny — Top-Rated Recipes from Cooking For Real and Home Made In America.

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Check out a few of Sunny Anderson's top-rated recipes from Cooking for Real and Home Made in America.

Apple and Onion-Stuffed Pork Chops With Orange-Pineapple Gravy

Gently cut pockets into chops by slicing horizontally on the side and stuff them with a combination of apples, bacon and onions mixed with pineapple-orange juice and aromatic cinnamon.

Pierogies

Traditionally stuffed with a potato mixture, these can also be filled with sweet mashed potatoes for a twist. Boil and top with sauteed onions to finish the dish.

Veggie Chili

Most vegetarian chilis are bulked up with beans, but this one has zucchini, celery, carrots and a head of broccoli thrown in for a unique take.

Strawberry Margarita Pancakes

When visiting a food truck in Chicago that only serves pancakes, Sunny witnessed breakfast food being reinvented firsthand. Here, typical pancake batter is transformed with tequila and strawberries and, once cooked, is topped with a lime syrup.

Arancini Al Ragu

Stuffed and deep-fried, these rice balls are mixed with two cheeses, Parmesan and pecorino, and then filled with veggies, beef and pork. Watch Sunny make them.

Cheesy Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole

Sunny recommends using frozen chopped broccoli instead of fresh broccoli for an easier-to-assemble cheesy casserole that will have your family and guests asking for seconds.

Photo By: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

Caribbean Chicken Wings

A party wouldn't be complete without a platter of wings, and Sunny's sweet-and-spicy version is sure to be the star of your table.

Garlic Hasselback Potatoes With Herbed Sour Cream

Sunny's Hasselback potatoes are baked until nice and crisp, then topped with herbed sour cream.

Hazelnut Pumpkin Pie

Intimidated by pie crust? Sunny makes an easy, press-in graham-cracker crust for her pumpkin pie. Then she mixes some cream cheese into her pumpkin filling to make it extra rich.

Photo By: Tara Donne

Sunny Morning Muffins

If you're a banana bread lover, then add this muffin recipe to your morning routine. To a base of banana bread batter Sunny adds strawberries, blueberries and, for a shortcut, store-bought prechopped walnuts.