Hi, I’m Sylvie Rowan. I believe the best meals come from real life.

Portrait of Sylvie Rowan smiling in her cozy kitchen, wearing a beige sweater and standing at a white counter
Real food, real life — from my kitchen to yours.

I’m a home cook, a lifelong learner in the kitchen, and the voice behind AnytimeYum. I live in the Hudson Valley, New York, where rolling hills meet cozy seasons and even cozier meals. My kitchen is where real life unfolds—sometimes it’s joyful, sometimes chaotic, always full of flavor.

Cooking didn’t start as a passion. It started as a necessity. In the early years of motherhood, I was just trying to get something on the table that my kids wouldn’t refuse. But something shifted—between reheating leftovers and scraping burnt toast—I started to fall in love with it. The creativity, the comfort, the way a warm meal could turn around an entire day.

I’m not professionally trained. Everything I know has come from trial and error, cooking shows, scribbled recipes, and a whole lot of flops (I once glued an oven mitt to a baking dish—please don’t ask). But I believe if you can read and taste, you can cook. That’s why I created AnytimeYum.

What is AnytimeYum?

AnytimeYum is for anyone who loves food—but doesn’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. Whether you’re cooking for one, feeding a crowd, managing chaos, or just looking to unwind at the stove, you’re in the right place.

Here you’ll find simple, seasonal recipes made with heart. From 20-minute weeknight staples to slow-cooked comfort food, every dish is designed to be doable and deeply satisfying. I gravitate toward cozy flavors, rustic textures, and ingredients that bring joy—like fresh herbs, warm spices, or the surprising magic of sharp cheddar and fig jam.

This blog isn’t just about food—it’s about the moments that make it meaningful. The smell of something baking on a rainy afternoon. The first bite that tastes like childhood. The memory of your mom letting you measure the flour—even when half of it hit the floor.

Two young children baking together at a kitchen counter while a golden retriever sits nearby. One child is licking a spoon, the other is whisking batter, with flour and baking tools scattered on the couter
Flour. Spoons. Pure chaos — just how we like it.

A Little About Me

When I’m not in the kitchen, I’m usually chasing our golden retriever Maple away from the counter, or baking with my two boys who are experts at licking spoons and making messes. My husband is my go-to taste-tester and the quiet champion behind most of what I do.

But this space? It’s for all of us.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned home cook, single or partnered, parent or not—if food is your comfort, creativity, or escape—you’ll feel right at home here.

Let’s make something delicious, together.
No rules. No pressure. Just real food, for real life.