Ree Drummond on LIFE, LOVE & LITTLE JOYS

Ree Drummond, aka the Pioneer Woman, became a beloved household name on the Food Network, but she first won hearts as a blogger sharing photos of her family's idyllic life on the ranch.

- by MELISSA D'AGNESE

“I started posting recipes way back in—brace yourself—2007,” Ree tells Woman's World. “It was mostly photos of family ranch life, but one night, I blogged about cooking a steak for my husband—and I took step-by-step photos. I didn't think the recipe would turn into anything. But readers asked for more—and that's where it all began.” Now, 18 years later, Ree is a New York Times bestselling author—with 10 cookbooks under her belt—and she remains a lauded TV personality known for her down-home dishes. But recently, the mom of four says she's learning the beauty of slowing down. “There's a certain peace and serenity that comes in one's 50s,” she says. “And this mindset extends to the holidays, too. We've lived enough life to know the most important part of the season is being with our loved ones.”

Here, Ree talks about her nostalgic comforts, her new cookbook (she calls it her “recipe bible”) and how she's finding more joy now than ever before.

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