We are thrilled to welcome Debbie Fabre as one of our Dessert Round Two Finalists!

Debbie lives in Lehigh Acres, FL with her husband of 27 years! She is an upbeat and happy and loves designing shoes and accessories for young girls in her spare time. Mother to grown boys Matthew and Marshall, this devout Christian gal loves to cook and entertain! We caught up with Debbie and asked her a few questions about food!

What is the first dish you ever cooked?

The very first thing I remember cooking was snow cream. When it would snow in the winter in Kentucky, my mom would go out and gather up a big bowl of freshly fallen snow and mix it with milk, sugar, and vanilla. My sisters Marcia, Linda and Cindy and my brother Mark would think we had died and gone to heaven. So mom would let us help mix that up. As a real "meal" dish, I remember making Chicken and Dumplins the way my grandmother, Ma Combs used to make them. Still to this day everyone loves my Chicken and Dumplins.

Who is your biggest inspiration when it comes to cooking?

Well, as far as those people who have influenced me throughout my life, the first one would have to be my mother. She always made the most wonderful meals and nurtured us with her cooking. I still call her to this day to ask questions about something I'm not sure about. Secondly, the ladies of my church when I was in my 20's and 30's, Myra Waldee, Sylvia Warriner, Ruby Hoard and several others were true inspirations to me. Not only did they teach me how to cook, but along with my mother, they taught me how to have the Spirit of Hospitality. We had so many banquets, luncheons and every year a cake and pie auction. Believe it or not, I actually took home a couple of First Place Blue Ribbons. Now, of course I am inspired by Paula Deen who is so much like those ladies that I learned so much from. I feel like I have already known her for years!

What is the best meal you've ever eaten and why?

It would have to be at my parents 50th wedding anniversary party. The food was delicious, but more than that my parents, Marshall and Alma Combs renewed their wedding vows and we were all together as a family. When you have a large family, it's hard to get everyone together and this was one of the most precious times of my life. My dad shook like a leaf while they repeated their vows and there was not a dry eye in the house. Now they've been married 63 years. When I think about good meals, I automatically think about the holidays and times I am with those I love.

If you could cook only one dish, what would it be?

Just about anything with STRAWBERRIES!!!! My favorite food in the entire world. Strawberry pie would be the favorite, but you can just give me a basket of strawberries and I'll eat until my tummy hurts!

And here's more from Debbie in her own words!

When the Real Women of Philadelphia opportunity came about, I thought it would be a fun experience and I have always dreamed about hosting a cooking show. Until now, it was just a dream. I feel that when you are passionate about something, it shows and you do it well. I am passionate about cooking and what it brings with it: love, hospitality, nurturing, comfort, friendship, fellowship and so many other things.

Not only have I learned so much about myself throughout this wonderful journey, but I have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful women all around the country. These women will be my friends for life and I feel so blessed to have had them walk with me through this adventure. I couldn't mention all the names, but I have to say that Nancy Judd (Lady Nann), Elaine Barbee, Alicia Kammler, Jan Eide, Shannon Imlay and Audrey Mack just to name a few, have probably shown me more about how to be a real winner than anything else in this competition. Things such as how to gracefully accept defeat and stay encouraged and keep my priorities in the right place no matter what the outcome.

For me, this is the opportunity of a life time. When I first married my husband, my mother-in-law, Pat, told me I was a dreamer and she was right. I have always tried to believe that if I tried hard enough and kept pursuing my dreams that they would come true and this experience has proven that. Thank you all for your support, love, and encouragement which have helped this dream to come true!