Chef Tineke "Tini" Younger has a new cookbook

Cooking videos have racked up millions of views, turning Chef Tina Younger into a social media sensation with a recipe for comfort food and just a confidence in the kitchen. And now she's bringing that same approach to the page with her new cookbook. It's called Today We Are Cooking Recipes That Teach You To Think Like A Chef. Features more than 100 recipes designed to help home cooks build their skills, get creative, and just have some fun in the kitchen like she does. So Chef Tina Younger is joining us now to talk about all of it. And it's so good to have You're on with us. Good morning, Teena. Good morning. Thank you for having me. Of course. Okay. Listen, I consider myself one of the OGs girlfriend. I've been following you since the jump, since the jump. And I'll never forget your videos. You'd be like, my boyfriend wants a sandwich and you'd go get that flour and you would make the bread. I'd never seen anything, anything like it. Obviously a genuine love of cooking. Where does that come from Teeny? Yeah. I mean, I was never the best student in school, So I found cooking. through high school, actually. It's called CTC. It's Career Technology Center. It's basically a trade school for high schoolers. And I did the culinary program. And I went from like C's, D's, F's to A's and B's because I finally found passion for something. And it was something that I wanted to learn more. I never wanted to learn more about math or reading or anything like that. And it really just went from there. I love cooking. It's fun. There's 10 million things going at once and that's what my brain needs. you. And I love that I can share that with people. And now people can recreate my recipes and I just love cooking for people. So this is kind of a way I can cook for people. Sure. Yeah, like in their own kitchen. I love it. And that's the thing about you, too, is you can see such a genuine joy that you have when you're in the kitchen and when you are making those things from scratch, girl, because you know you make it all from scratch, which is impressive. But you talked about, you know, a million things going on in your head. But, Tina, you literally have a community of 14 million followers on social media. So it's incredible. I mean, what do you think it is about you, the secret that allows you to connect so well with so many people? Yeah, I think it's the approach that I do in the kitchen. I try not to make it too fancy. And I try to explain things how I would learn because I have a learning disability. So it takes me a little bit to comprehend things. So that's why in my videos, I try to break down every single thing. And I put that in the book. I try to break down everything. I try to ask and answer all the why questions. And I think it's just how I approach things. And I make it Not easy, but like... I make it where, you know, it's not too scary to get in the kitchen. It's approachable. You make it approachable. You really do. And I think that's what anybody would say about you that's tried one of your recipes. But let's talk about this. I mean, congratulations on your cookbook. What inspired you to write today? We are cooking recipes that teach you to think like a chef, Tini. Yeah, I mean, it was really just the high demand of everybody asking for a cookbook. And I felt like it was the best time to release it around holiday time because that's what I'm most known for. And it's really, I also just wanted more people to gain confidence in the kitchen. I feel like nowadays it's so easy to just, you know. A delivery app, a food delivery app, and I want more people cooking, especially my generation. So I wanted to put really my videos in a book and more. And so far, I've seen so many people recreate the recipes and it makes me so happy. Good. So when I think about, I'm so glad you mentioned, you know, you, you releasing this around the holidays because the recipes that, that folks think of you are at least me, you're turkey, you're Mac and cheese. Like, I feel like you can't say Tini without pairing it with Mac and cheese. There you have it. We've got some video that we're showing folks right now. What's the secret here? I mean, you make what looks to be the most incredible Mac and cheese Tini. And And is that in the cookbook? Oh, yeah, it had to be in the cookbook. Okay. I think the secret, again, is the way I approach the mac and cheese, but also maybe the three pounds of cheese and one pound of pasta. That'll do it. You can't have too much cheese. Please. That'll do it. That's so funny. I was talking to Nora, our producer of this show, and she has made your mac and cheese several times and says it's a hit whenever she does. So that's certainly one to try. I want to ask you one more thing before we let you go. You know, we mentioned that you've been doing this for years. You've got millions of followers. We followed every step of your life. What's your message to fans and for those who are maybe this is their introduction to you? What do you want Tini Younger, Chef Tini, to be known for? Yeah. I mean, I just want more people cooking. I don't want people scared to get in the kitchen and also don't be scared to mess up. You need to mess up because you need to realize, you know, you need to understand, okay, I messed this up. This is what I did wrong. And now I know how to fix it. So just don't be scared. You're going to mess up. I still mess up. I mess up at least like three times a week. So don't be scared to get in there. And it's very rewarding because you get to eat food and you also get to see people eat your food and you get compliments with it. I love it. Okay, I lied. One more, one more question. What's on the Thanksgiving menu? What are you cooking this year, Tini? Okay, I'm in charge of the turkey, the mac and cheese, the candy yams, the milk bread buns, the mashed potatoes. Oh, my God. And the pumpkin cheesecake bars, and I'm going to do some flavored butters. Oh. And maybe some sangria. My word. How do we get an invite to this Thanksgiving where you're whipping all that up? That's the big question. You know, that would be a nice goal is just to invite everyone. We wish. And you'd be the house. That would serve. It will certainly be incredible. Tini, congratulations on all your success. It's been so fun seeing you soar, and this is just the first, I'm sure, of many cookbooks and many other amazing things to come for you. So thank you for checking in with us here in Atlanta. Yes, thank you so much for having me. And you can pick up Chef Tini's new cookbook. Today we are cooking recipes that teach you to think like a chef. It's out now.