When one decides to take a vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, she will usually tell someone that she is going to Nags Head or maybe Duck. But unless that is exactly where you will be residing, you have given false information. Although you may pass through these locations, there are 12 other towns in four counties that make up this series of barrier islands that stretches nearly 200 miles along North Carolina’s coast and a fraction of Virginia.

Among the 14 listed towns, there sits Kitty Hawk, once called Chickahauk by Native Americans, meaning “goose hunting grounds.” And in this town of 3,272 (2010 census), there is a special place called Sea Scape, a timeshare community. Here owners come and go, but there is one owner who lives here almost permanently, not just as a resident but one who also shares her talents with others: Nellie Healy.

Nellie teaches yoga, Tai Chi and water aerobics, but it’s her cooking classes that bring your palate great ple...