Leslie Vennero Little Roselle

If Leslie Vennero Little could take one staple to the proverbial deserted island, it would be the thing used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes: garlic. "It must be my Italian roots," the Roselle wife and mother explained. "I use garlic to flavor all types of meats, roasted vegetables, salad dressings, garlic bread and biscuits and sauces. You can pretty much use garlic in most types of food."

Little, who works as a Paraprofessional at Lake Park High School in the Special Education Department, applied for the Cook of the Week contest because she always wanted to try a cooking competition. "I love the competition shows on Food Network and have been watching for years. plus I also love to cook and experiment with food and learn new things."

Husband John, daughter Collette, twin sons John and Sam and a large extended family are the winners when Little starts roasting, currently, her favorite cooking method especially as we move into fall. "I love to roast any vegetables in season with a little olive oil, garlic and sea salt. I am on a broccoli kick right now, she explained. It's not unusual to catch her working the immersion blender making purees and salsas as the tomato harvest comes to bear in her uncle's huge garden. He gifts her hundreds of the red orbs so she can work her culinary magic. An admitted "fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants cook," the 56-year-old figures out a menu when at the grocery store or farm stand and decides what appeals to her taste buds that day. You won't find chips in her cart, however, because they're her guilty pleasure and she "can't eat just one." She loves to read food magazines and try new recipes, too.

"It is tricky because I have some picky eaters and often make something for myself and a different dinner for them," Little said. She has caught onto the Sriracha sauce wagon lately adding it to stir-fries and shrimp dishes.

The Cook of the Week contestant looks forward to the challenge but hopes not to encounter offal. "You know the 'weird meats' like pig head or head cheese - not appetizing!"