Ree Drummond Opens Up About Life, Love and Family: ‘There’s a Certain Peace and Serenity That Comes in Your 50s’ (EXCL)

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. “I started posting recipes way back in—brace yourself—2007,” Ree tells Woman’s World as this week’s cover girl (get your copy here!). “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 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.” Ree recently sat down with Woman’s World to talk about her nostalgic comforts, her new cookbook (she calls it her “recipe bible”) and how she’s finding more joy now than ever before. 

Woman’s World: Thank you for talking with Woman’s World! We’re thrilled to have you as our cover star. What advice or kitchen hacks do you have for women leading up to the holiday craze? Is there something you don’t stress about anymore? 

Ree Drummond: “All the striving for a perfect table, an immaculate house or a flawless menu just causes unnecessary stress,” says Ree. “If you are calm, cool, collected and having fun, your guests will relax with you! My other tip—this is key for me—is to prep things ahead. Look at the menu and plan what you can do four days in advance, three days in advance, all the way up to mealtime. Even just chopping veggies a couple days earlier saves so much time and mess on the big day.”

WW: We always celebrate life’s small joys in Woman’s World. What are some simple things that bring you joy or calm each day?

RD: “We live in such a rushed world right now. What keeps me feeling like me is basking in little joys. I try to make time for sunrise (iced!) coffee dates with myself—a little Bible, a little cold brew, a little prayer. I also rely on my mom’s advice: 10 deep breaths—in through your nose, out through your mouth. It helps me reset during hectic days.”

WW: Congratulations on the newest addition to your family—sweet Sofia! Do you and your family have anything special planned for Thanksgiving this year? Any old—or new—traditions that you’re especially looking forward to? 

RD: “Thank you! I’ve never experienced joy like I have since the birth of my first grandchild, Sofia, last year! She’s a dream. At first, I was a bit of a reluctant grandmother because I felt like I was still raising some of my own children…but she’s the best thing. She’s the most delightful baby with the sweetest arm rolls—like the Michelin baby! When she’s old enough, she’ll be in the kitchen with me. That’s one thing I didn’t do when my own kids were young—having them ‘help’ in the kitchen took more time and focus I didn’t have. Now that I’m an empty nester, I can’t wait for Sofia to be my sous chef.”

WW: Which dishes are the most nostalgic on your table every year around the holidays? And looking forward to Thanksgiving, what are your must-have dishes on the holiday table/buffet?  

RD: “I would be hard-pressed to name a more nostalgic family recipe than my mom’s cinnamon rolls. They’re perfect for all the fall holidays and occasions all the way up through New Year’s Day. My mom and I used to make them when I was growing up and she’d always deliver them to friends and neighbors. Once I got married I carried on that tradition. They are the most special cinnamon rolls I’ve ever tasted, and the whole process of making them transports me back in time.

Another very meaningful dish? The mashed potatoes we have enjoyed for almost 30 years. It sounds like a very basic dish, but there’s nothing basic about these mashed potatoes! They have butter, heavy cream, half-and-half and (this is the important part!) cream cheese. The result is the creamiest, dreamiest mashed potatoes! I make them a couple of days before Thanksgiving and simply bake them alongside the rest of the sides. Perfect every time.”

WW: What’s something new you learned about yourself this year?

RD: “I learned that at age 56, I can build muscle! I have been learning to appreciate the importance of muscle in the whole picture of my health. I usually turn on an 80’s movie or some documentary and spend 30 minutes doing lunges, squats, deadlifts, and calf raises. I have found that it turns your body into more of an efficient calorie-burning machine than if you simply do cardiovascular exercise. I love to eat, obviously, so anything that allows me to keep doing that is great with me! Mostly, it’s fun at my age to squeeze my thigh and think ‘Hey, where’d that quad come from!?!’”

Don’t miss Ree’s new cookbook! She’s calling it her “recipe Bible”

“I had such fun working on this cookbook,” says Ree. Her latest book, The Essential Recipes, features 120 perfected versions of her classic dishes from the last two decades, such as Chicken Pot Pie, Whiskey Carrots, Cinnamon Rolls and many more. She’s even presenting each dish in step-by-step photos—her signature style! “I found that readers don’t want to just see the finished meal—they want to see the during and after! I’m a visual learner myself, and I love providing that reassurance for them.”