Wells loves making people smile with food

For Kevin Wells, his favorite part of cooking is seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces when they taste his dishes. 

Wells was born and raised in Philadelphia and learned to cook through his aunts, grandmother and mother starting when he was 12 years old. He still lives in Philadelphia with his daughter Ashley and works as a promoter on social media and records voiceovers for business commercials. 

Wells said he sees cooking as good for the soul and loves seeing people smile and enjoy his food. 

“I have a lot of ladies in my family and my mother passed on her cooking skills to me,” Wells said. “My aunts still cook a lot as well. Cooking in my family is a way of getting together. Not just for holidays, but just for random supper nights sometimes. It’s a way to catch up with one another and see how everyone is doing in life. I love to see people smile and their faces light up when they taste the food and they’ll even call me afterwards and tell me they enjoyed it.”

Wells said he also enjoys cooking to help people, such as cooking for the Boys and Girls Club, making food for his older aunts, and volunteering to help with local cookouts. 

“I do a lot of grilling for my aunts and for other people who are doing a cookout,” he said. “I’ll of course cook for holidays as well. I cook things like pulled pork, ribs, hamburgers, baked beans, spaghetti, and vegetables such as butter beans and corn.” 

“I’m not big on desserts but if I were to make a dessert, I’d make chocolate chip cookies or a chocolate cake, maybe even a fruit salad. All of these things were taught to me when I was 12 years old. I remember even as far back as high school that I’d be the one who would cook for events and cookouts.” 

Wells said he always cooks with love, he loves people, and he loves seeing people smile. 

RIBS 

Rack of pork ribs (baby back recommended) 

Pork seasoning rub 

Unsweetened apple juice 

1/2 cup brown sugar 

Apple cider vinegar 

Large disposable aluminum tray 

Aluminum foil 

Apply ingredients to the uncooked ribs. Wrap in foil while the grill temperature heats up to 300-325 degrees. 

Place ribs on the grill and cook for an hour and 30 minutes. 

SUGAR COOKIES 

1 cup margarine 

2 eggs 

1 tsp vanilla 

1 tsp baking soda 

1 tsp salt 

1 cup vegetable oil 

1 cup white sugar 

4 cups all purpose white flour 

1 tbsp cream of tartar 

Mix together ingredients to make the cookie dough. Drop dough onto a cookie sheet by teaspoonfuls. 

Flatten each cookie with a glass dipped in butter and sugar. Bake cookies for 8 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees until browned lightly.