Hello, Good Heart!
I'm Renée – writer, recipe developer, and co-host (alongside my husband Rick) of The Good Hearted Woman and Parkside Acoustic Bed & Breakfast, our cozy music-themed B&B in beautiful Ashland, Oregon. I’m so glad you’ve stopped by!
This blog was founded on the spirit of commensality – the act of coming together and sharing a meal. Food connects us, comforts us, and tells the stories of who we are and where we come from. Here at The Good Hearted Woman, I share those stories through recipes rooted in memory, tradition, and a love of hospitality.
Presently, Rick and I are living that spirit more fully than ever, welcoming guests from near and far to our 1910 gable front home, where good food, good company, and good music come together. (And yes – many of the breakfast recipes we serve at the B&B appear right here on TGHW!)
About Renée
As child of the 70’s, I came home to an empty house after school (we all did back then), always starving for a snack. My parents never bought “snack foods,” so I was left to my own devices. Using the contents of our sparse cupboards for supplies and my mother’s red-checkered Betty Crocker Cookbook for guidance, I started creating my own recipes. One of the first original recipes I ever made up was for two chocolate cupcakes. Just two.
Raised as an only child, I spent a lot of time alone. I remember putting on my own cooking show in my mother’s kitchen on a daily basis, emulating our local television chefs of the day; Julia Child, Lois Devore, and Chef Horst Mager among them. With flourish, I'd methodically step my imaginary viewers through the process of whatever recipe I was making that day, chattering about my ingredient choices and technique as I went. (Ironically, to date I've yet to do anything of substance on video.)
These days, I’m a writer, Mama, Nana, and former classroom teacher turned full-time creative. I spent decades feeding a big family on a budget – often cooking for mixed tables of vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores – which taught me to be both flexible and inventive in the kitchen. That challenge was the seed that grew into What’s for Dinner, Mama?, my first food blog, which eventually became The Good Hearted Woman.
About Rick
Rick – known affectionately as Mr. B here on TGHW – is my husband, best friend, and partner in all things food and life. He's a master of the grill, a breakfast burrito king, and an essential part of everything that happens behind the scenes. Whether he's chopping veggies, test-tasting new creations, or fixing a leaky faucet, he’s always all in.
Rick and I met in high school choir and got engaged our junior year – but life had other plans. Nearly three decades later, we reconnected, and the rest is a love story best told over pancakes and a warm cup of cocoa.
About Our Recipes
Most of the recipes you’ll find here are deeply personal – dishes we make at home, share with family, or serve to our guests at Parkside Acoustic B&B. We focus on real, nourishing food made with whole ingredients, seasonal produce, and a healthy dash of nostalgia.
Our recipes are often inspired by our German, Irish, and Southern roots, the cultural cooking classes we’ve taken, and the incredible meals we’ve shared while traveling (especially in the American South and Pacific Northwest). Every recipe is tested thoroughly – and your feedback is always welcome!
You’ll find:
- Easy comfort food for busy families
- Heirloom recipes adapted for modern kitchens
- A growing collection of breakfast and brunch favorites
- Potluck-perfect dishes and picnic fare
- Copycat recipes inspired by our travels
- Vegetarian, vegan, and flexible recipes for mixed-diet tables
Beyond the Kitchen
Music has always been the heartbeat of our home, and when we’re not in the kitchen, hosting guests, or working behind the scenes on the blog or the B&B, you’ll often find us making music together; writing songs and singing close harmonies, like the Everly Brothers, Eagles, CSN&Y, Beach Boys, Carpenters, and other classic artists who’ve shaped our sound and spirit.
In the spring of 2025, we brought a long-held dream to life and opened Parkside Acoustic Bed & Breakfast – a cozy, music-themed retreat nestled in Ashland’s historic Skidmore Academy district. It’s a space created with intention and heart, designed for guests who appreciate quiet comfort, hearty, home cooked breakfasts, and the gentle rhythm of slowing down!
Thanks so much for stopping by. We hope the recipes and stories you find here bring joy, spark connection, and maybe even inspire a little kitchen harmony of your own. Come back soon – or better yet, come visit us in Ashland. We’d love to cook something up for you!
