When did you first get in to cooking and do you remember the first recipe you tried?
My parents both cooked a lot while I was growing up, and my mom was at home, so we were always making stuff together. The first dish I felt like I "owned" was rice pudding, which I made from a Norwegian cookbook I found in the library. It took me hours, and I had to stand on a chair, stirring the milk to keep it from burning. I also wrote a recipe for "Yum yum cookies" that my mom let me try out. They were awful!
What's your kitchen like and how do you keep organized when cooking?
My kitchen is small and narrow! I'm always wishing for more surface area. My boyfriend and I both cook a lot, so it's almost always cluttered. I try to keep things under control and organized by cleaning up as I'm cooking. If I have some downtime while something is simmering or baking, I round everything up and wipe everything down.
What tips would you give to someone wanting to become a better cook?
Don't be afraid to fail. Be inspired by others.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party and what would you cook for them?
Mister Rogers, Ellen, Tina Fey, and Jon Stewart. Four of my all-time favorite people. Ellen is vegan and Mister Rogers was a vegetarian, so I'd probably try this vegan grilled cheese recipe I've been ogling for some time. And of course, some roasted tomato basil soup, made from scratch. I think it would set a cozy, intimate atmosphere. I like to imagine us sitting around in socks, dipping our sandwiches in soup, rather than being polite and proper at the table.
Do you do any other crafts and what are your hobbies?
Crocheting and needle felting are also passions of mine, and I'm willing to pick up just about any project, if someone can show me how. I am also a voracious reader and play the piano. And I'd love to learn a lot more about photography, but I'm not good enough to call it a hobby yet. =)
Which cooking blogs do you love to read?
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
So happy to be a part of this project! I highly recommend the curried pumpkin soup. ;-)
Cakes
Dessert
