Contestant Annie Smith from NBC's "Food Fighters"

It's the perfect recipe for the ultimate food battle when the best amateur cooks in America put their signature dishes to the test against five professional chefs in “Food Fighters,” a high-stakes culinary game airing Tuesdays (8-9 p.m. ET/PT) on NBC.

Our guest is Food Fighters contestant Annie Smith. Annie Smith is a stay-at-home Mom and married mother of three from Corona Del Mar, California. Formerly a psychologist, Annie discovered cooking was her own personal form of therapy after her daughter was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called Rett Syndrome, which left her unable to speak, make a full range of facial expressions, eat, walk, or use her hands effectively. She hopes to win enough money on the show to purchase a speech-generating device that will allow her daughter to communicate.