When did you first get in to cooking and do you remember the first recipe you tried?
I was always super busy as a kid and all throughout high school, so I didn't have many chances to get into cooking until I moved into an apartment my senior year of college. Then it was kind of like "Oh, there's no dining hall I can go to. I have to learn to cook... but that means I can have whatever I want...". I made bacon egg and cheese sandwiches on a croissant every day for a year. Once I finally got sick of them I started branching out and found out that I actually really liked cooking; it's like a chemistry experiment you can eat afterwards. I was a Biology major so I became all about it.
What's your kitchen like and how do you keep organized when cooking?
I just moved, so my new kitchen is larger than the old one. There are these old glass door cabinets that I'm in love with so I can put all my plates and glasses and things on display. Otherwise I would say its a typical kitchen for 20-somethings, nothing special.
As much as I love cooking, I absolutely despise doing dishes and cleaning the kitchen, so I try to clean and put things away as I go. I put ingredients back in the fridge or pantry once I'm done with them and I'll start rinsing/doing dishes while I'm waiting for things to be done cooking/mixing/whatever.
What tips would you give to someone wanting to become a better cook?
My grandfather on my Dad's side was an amazing chef, and he always used to say "if you can read, you can cook". Of course my grandmother was the polar opposite and never read directions. She once accidentally put a packet of instant rice in my mac and cheese instead of the packet of cheese! I would stick with my grandfather's advice and read the directions/recipes. No one can just jump into something and be good at it without any practice or research. Once you've done enough recipes from a book, you start to have an idea about what flavors go together and how long you need to cook a steak on each side to get it medium rare.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party and what would you cook for them?
Oh, man. This is a tough one. I love fashion, food, and photography but I'm also a bit of a science nerd. I would want a mix of big players from both worlds. So all my closest friends plus Anna Wintour, Oscar de la Renta, Karlie Kloss, Sophia Amoruso, Bobby Flay, Alton Brown, Einstein, Steven Hawking, John Oliver, Andy Warhol, Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Portman, Mario Testino... I could probably go on but you get the idea. Amazing minds from all kinds of backgrounds and time periods. I'm already getting anxious just thinking about the menu I would want to put in front of all these people haha! I would probably try to keep it seasonal and easy to pick up and eat, so everyone can move around and mingle; more of a cocktail hour vibe than a sit down dinner. Definitely with a signature cocktail for the night.
Do you do any other crafts and what are your hobbies?
I used to make jewelry for myself during the summer months, but I haven't done anything like that in awhile. Lately my blog has been my hobby, which is actually great. I've learned about everything from content creation and photography to marketing to coding!
Which cooking blogs do you love to read?
I'm usually more on content sharing websites like Pinterest, Food 52, or Food Gawker, although The Modern Proper always looks pretty drool-worthy, if I do say so myself.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you so much for featuring me! I hope you enjoy the recipes =)
Cakes
Salad
