Page A14 • February 13, 2014 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers Redlands mom may be worst cook in America

kicked right out,” she said. When her children, Brianna, 22, Ashton, 17, and Avery Thornton, 13, were younger, there really was - n't much to be said about her cook - ing. But as they got older and made their way into the kitchen, the truth came out and said her food was “worse than prison food.” Not hard to imagine after Brauner explained one of her staple dishes called, “Slop,” which consisted of chopped up hot dog franks, pota - toes and corn. “I thought I was making them a well-balanced meal with meat, po - tatoes and vegetables—guess not— they said the smell was so bad no one could eat it.” But Brauner’s kitchen disasters COURTESY PHOTO /THE FOOD NETWORK were never intentional. As a work - ing single mother she just wanted From cooking what her kids called “worst than prison food” to to get a hot meal on the table. healthy delicious meals, Amber Brauner is now learning to take Now, she’s learning that food and time at the table with her children her time in the kitchen as one of this season’s contestants on is more than just providing a meal. Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America.” “It’s a major component of life,” she said. “Why would you want to at 9 p.m. and is on every Sunday, is By Yazmin Alvarez feed the people you love so much Brauner’s opportunity to redeem such bland food—I’m learning herself in the kitchen after count - s a tattoo artist, Amber that’s not okay. Seasoning is more less disasters like kitchen fires from Brauner lives in color. In than just salt and pepper on the sautéing meat in flour, charred the kitchen, however, table and good food is what brings sunken in cakes and bland glops of she’s bland, boring and booted the family together and keeps us to - stew-like meals. mAinute she starts cooking some - gether. This experience is a huge But Brauner never thought she thing up. change for me—it’s bigger than I was a bad cook. But not all hope is lost for thought and a life changer.” Brauner. Let alone possibly the worst cook ever. COURTESY PHOTO /THE FOOD NETWORK The Redlands single mother of Yazmin Alvarez is a reporter for “I wasn't quite aware that I was four has been given the chance to Inland Empire Community News - that bad,” said Brauner. “I thought Redlands mother of four, Amber Brauner , is one of 14 contest - improve her cooking skills as one papers and can be reached at maybe I was a little boring on the of 14 contestants on the fifth season [email protected] ants on the fifth season The Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in of the Food Network’s “Worst cooking end, but worst cook—talk America.” The show premiers Feb. 17 at 9 p.m. Cooks in America” –a reality about an eye opener.” competition show for people lack - While it was her daughter, Zoi ing the necessary cooking skills Koester, 18, who nominated her for needed to prepare an edible meal. the show, it was clearly a group ef - And she’s learning to cook di - fort from her three other children, rectly from top restaurant chefs she explained. Bobby Flay and Anne Burrell for a “The kitchen was a “No Mom chance to win $25,000. Zone.” They’d catch me in there The show, which premiers Feb. 17 and I’d get the hip (bump) boot and

COURTESY PHOTO /THE FOOD NETWORK

Fourteen contestants are competing for a chance to win $25,000 on the Food Network ’s fifth season of “Worst Cooks in Amer - ica.” The season premier airs Feb 17 at 9 p.m. and is on every Sunday.