Andrea Miller

Andrea Miller’s family moved to Harrison from the Tulsa area about 5 years ago. “We fell in love with this little town and have a dream of opening up a coffeehouse where we can share our love of baking and coffee and love on people at the same time,” she shared.

Miller married her “hero,” Cody, 22 years ago. “He is, and always will be, the greatest love of my life,” said Miller. The couple have two children — Andrea, a college freshman and Dominic, a sophomore in high school. The family attends Harrison Faith Church.

Miller worked at Hillcrest Home before making the transition oto opening up a home bakery — Rustic Bakes by Andrea. “I thoroughly enjoyed working at Hillcrest and I’ve made some life-long friends through that experience,” Miller shared.

I grew up in Kentucky! I’m an identical twin and one of 5 siblings! I moved to Florida in 1999 where I attended Southeastern University and ultimately earned my bachelors degree in Social Work with a minor in Psychology!

Miller grew up in Kentucky. She is one of five siblings, and an identical twin. Miller recalls growing up, “Having been raised in “the south” some would say, good food and cooking was always around me! I remember spending many summers at my Granny’s farm where my aunts and Granny were constantly cooking or baking something! Gardens, animals, cooking, baking…eating…we always had a great meal along with a great time! Some of the best learning moments were when I wasn’t intentionally being “taught”! Just the absorption into the world of food birthed a desire in me at a young age!”

One of her early cooking experiences was making biscuits and sausage gravy for her family when she was in the 4th grade, around nine years old.

One ingredient that you will always find in her kitchen is garlic. “I’m pretty sure I put garlic in everything, unless I’m baking of course! There are a lot of health benefits to garlic! It’s good for the heart, anti-inflammatory and can help with blood sugars! It’s bad for close up conversations!”

Miller likes to share her recipes — keeping no ingredients secret, “In fact, when we have friends over for a meal my kids will say ‘you want to know the secret ingredient in this spaghetti?’ If you’ve been to my house for spaghetti night, you know what it is!”

She shares her spaghetti sauce secrets with this week’s recipe.

Spaghetti Sauce

56 oz crushed tomatoes (garden tomatoes in the summertime!)

1 sweet onion, finely chopped

4 Tbs roasted garlic (I love garlic)

1/4 freshly chopped basil leaves

1-2 Tbs olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

1 Tbs mini semi sweet chocolate chips (shhh, it’s a secret!)

In a large saucepan, add olive oil and bring to a medium-low heat. Add chopped onions. Sautée gently until tender, around 5-7 mins. Keep in mind not to burn the onion to prevent a bitter, burnt taste.

Once tender, add roasted garlic, tomatoes, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Stir. Turn heat to a low simmer. Cover and simmer for up to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Low and slow is the marrying magic of sauces!! Once sauce looks like it has reduced down a bit or darkening in color, add chocolate chips and chopped basil. Stir. Simmer on low for another 10 mins until chocolate is melted and incorporated! Sauce should not be necessarily sweet, just an hint of “what’s that?!” Adjust taste accordingly.

Makes 4-6 servings. Serving size will differ if adding ground beef or sausage to sauce.

Enjoy with your favorite prepared pasta!