About the Authors

JACKIE ZABEL

For Jackie Zabel, good things definitely come in threes.  She's a triple threat as a writer, mother of three children, and someone who holds three college degrees.

Jackie often works writing and/or editing on her husband, writer-producer Bryce Zabel's projects.  She takes an active business role in running their business, Stellar Productions, managing legal, financial, scheduling and creative issues. When Bryce was elected Chairman/CEO of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2001, Jackie took on “first lady” duties.  She attended many industry functions as well as multiple Emmy Awards ceremonies.  She also served as a founding member of the “ATAS Cares” committee, a group committed to good works in the entertainment community.  She wrote the script for the inaugural event, a fashion show benefiting a charity called “Dress for Success.”

In the summer of 2001, Jackie was the only woman to have a writing credit on the major Disney summer release, "Atlantis: The Lost Empire."  She was delighted to have taken part as it fulfilled a childhood dream of hers to write a Disney movie Jackie began her career as a journalist in Los Angeles.  She served as a news writer-producer, and fill-in anchor at various local stations including KCBS-TV, KCOP-TV, and KHJ-AM. 

Since both of Jackie's parents are medical doctors, it's not surprising that she found herself producing health news at KCBS as well as Cable Health Network.  Also, she earned recognition from the Los Angeles Press Club for her work during that period As Jackie began her family, she also found success transitioning exclusively into dramatic writing with a maternity-themed spec script called "Labor of Love," which sold to Universal over a weekend.   Jackie continued with a first look deal, working on a television pilot resurrection of the "Charlie's Angels" franchise. 

Female-themes remained a specialty for Jackie as she wrote a television movie for NBC entitled "Camp Mom."   She also optioned an original script called "Robot Mom" to Nickelodeon.  Jackie also has written or developed stories for television episodes including, "The Crow:  Stairway to Heaven," and "M.A.N.T.I.S."   

Jackie’s education includes a Masters' in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California and Psychology and Journalism bachelor's degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.   She graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

 

MORGAN MOST

Morgan Most graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a Bachelor's degree of Fine Arts in Theater.  Shortly after graduating, she pursued a career in acting, and almost immediately start landing roles in numerous television drama and sitcoms such as "Vegas," "When the Whistle Blows," "Dallas," and "Simon & Simon."

It was during one of her guest appearances on the TV show, "Happy Days," that Morgan met actor Donny Most.  Two years later, they were married.

Morgan continued to work as an actress, appearing in such projects as the TV miniseries,  "My Wicked, Wicked Ways," the story of Errol Flynn, and the feature film, "The Man who wasn't there," co-starring with Jeffrey Tambor and William Forsythe.

When the Mosts decided to start a family, Morgan opted to devote herself full time to her children, volunteering at their schools, sports teams, and extracurricular activities.  Coming from a family dedicated to public service, she has always been involved in community causes, supporting many local charities.

Cooking with her daughters over the years has been a favorite pastime.   Working on this cookbook has been a gratifying mix of giving back to the community as well as enjoying one of her hobbies.