Episode
E119 -Ditch the Recipe Rut: Cook Creatively with Chef Blackwell Smith
- Published
- Mar 26, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2482
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Summary
Turns out, the secret ingredient to a more creative life might already be in your spice cabinet. Bold food, bold ideas, and one Chattanooga chef will change the way you’ll think about cooking. 🌶️ In this episode of Create Today, Beth sits down with the incredibly fun and inspiring Blackwell Smith — founder of Lucky Cajun Seasoning, a Chattanooga-based small-batch spice brand built for real home cooks who want bold, reliable flavors without the fuss. This conversation goes way beyond spicing up dinner tonight! (Although it will do that!) This episode is about creativity, confidence, courage, and how… the way you approach your dinner plate—can literally change your life. Here's what you'll discover in this episode: • Why creativity is a DECISION — Blackwell shares how no one is born a great cook (or a great anything). It's all about showing up, experimenting, and giving yourself permission to mess up— to get the SKILLS. • How a single technique unlocks a thousand possibilities — Learn how mastering something as simple as a vinaigrette can become the creative foundation for endless meals. • The "flywheel" effect of creative cooking — When you cook better, you eat better. When you eat better, you have more energy. More energy fuels more creativity. It all compounds! • The "stay out of the aisles" rule — Blackwell's dad's golden advice for eating healthier with less effort, and why whole foods at home beat packaged meals EVERY single time. • Why your spices might be sabotaging your meals —(how old are the spices in your kitchen??) Fresh ground spices are a game-changer. • The blackened shrimp and polenta experiment — Beth shares her own kitchen adventure trying something totally new — and how it turned out even better than the restaurant versio…