When did you first get in to cooking and do you remember the first recipe you tried?
I used to cook with my mother when I was a child and was always really excited to help out with dinner. One of my first cooking memories was baking Lussekatter, saffron buns served on St. Lucia's Day in Sweden. To this day, it never really feels like Christmas until I have made Lussekatter. It's actually one of the first recipes I ever made for my blog as well!
What's your kitchen like and how do you keep organized when cooking?
The kitchen was one of the things we fell in love with when we purchased our house. It has tons of counter space and storage. I am a super-organized person and my kitchen definitely reflects that. My spice shelf is organized by size and my fridge is spotless. However, my organization probably compensates for my messy cooking. Even if I try really hard to keep things clean while baking, I'll still find flour and sugar all over the kitchen (and in my hair).
What tips would you give to someone wanting to become a better cook?
Practice.
Don't be afraid to get into the kitchen and start cooking. I am constantly trying new techniques and using my fiancé as my personal food critic. There have been a couple of huge fails, but I've learned from each of them. For example, I always had a lot of trouble making macaroni and cheese from scratch. The cheese would curdle, the roux would make it gritty, or it would just taste off. I had to order pizza a few times because it was so bad. However, thanks to my fiancé's patience (and strong stomach) and tons of practice, I can now make a killer mac and cheese from scratch.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party and what would you cook for them?
I would love to have dinner with a traveling food critic like Andrew Zimmern. It would be fun to hear all about his experiences tasting food from across the globe. However, I would be extremely nervous to cook for him. I would probably try and make sous vide steaks or another recipe I was really comfortable with.
Do you do any other crafts and what are your hobbies?
I grew up living all over the world, so traveling has become my favorite hobby. I've visited over 35 countries and will be adding a few more to the list during my honeymoon this fall. I love learning about different cultures and trying new foods. I've eaten scorpions, snakes, baluts, beetles, eyeballs, and a list of things that I couldn't identify. I also have a passion for photography, so I never leave for a trip without my camera!
Which cooking blogs do you love to read?
I don't think I read many on a regular basis, but I am constantly looking for new blogs and recipes. It's fun to see all of the different styles of cooking. However, White on Rice Couple's food photography has definitely been a huge inspiration. Their pictures make me want to become a better photographer.
Cakes
Pasta
