Does it feel like yesterday that 2012 just started.  I mean just the other day we were all celebrating New Years and gearing up for all that 2012 has in store for us.  Now it’s February and I am literally watching time fly by… Where is it all going?  I know this isn’t a recipe or a knock your socks off take your breath away yummy treat, it’s just little ol me sitting down in my pjs on my bed thinking of all of you readers.

You see, I have been blogging for three years today.  Can you believe it, THREE years.  It feels like I started this blog just yesterday.  Even though there are days sometimes even weeks where I do not get a chance to fill you all in the most recent cooking adventures or recipes that I have don’t think that my mind doesn’t run across you guys.  See I almost forgot our birthday today… can you believe that… I looked at my calendar and said, “Hold on a sec… Feb 6th, that date is special to me… why…?”  Then it hit me… DUH!!!!!!!

Today we, ThatsSoYummy, are Three Years Old.  Even though we are still so young and have so much to learn I just want to give all of you, my readers, fans, and loyal foodies a BIG bear hug and say Thank You!  I also wanted to share a few comments I have been getting from fellow readers that have truly touched my heart…

From Angela:

“I am loving your site. I have bookmarked several of your recipes and can’t wait to try them. Your daughter is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!”

From Kim:

“Dear Tasha,

I was searching for a recipe for banana fritters and came across your website. I’m so glad I did! I have some several ripe bananas and was about to make my mother’s Jamaican Banana Bread (with my own twist: chocolate chips!) but wanted to make banana fritters. I haven’t had them in YEARS. Both of my parents are Jamaican and I am Canadian.  Baking my favorite ‘comfort’ foods always helps, living away from my home city.

Your website is warm, inviting and I really like the personal aspect of it. God bless you and your lovely family and thanks SO much for the wonderful recipes! I’ve bookmarked your site and I will share the link with my friends.”

From Savannah:

“I’m only 12 but i like your recipes and im reallly passionate about cooking and you have helped me be more confident.”

All last week I was thinking hard about what I wanted to cook or bake to celebrate ThatsSoYummy’s 2 year Anniversary.  Of all the recipes that I have shared on ThatsSoYummy I think desserts have to be my favorite.  I think it has to do with my incredible sweet tooth and my love to bake.  Even though there are soooooo many more recipes I have to share with you all I just knew this one was gonna be a hit, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes!

Now can I just say that Boy!!!!!! Were they ever…. They were so good that I ate TWO in one day.  I know greedy, right… but I just couldn’t help myself.  Of course now since I did I have to go cycling for an hour to counter it today but who cares.  These lil babies are sooooooo worth the workout!  I had made extras that i brought them to church and in 5 minutes they were all gone.

I don’t want to ramble on how much ThatsSoYummy means to me and how it has allowed me to meet so many people and the ability to share my love for food… I just want to thank all of you who are amid lovers of ThatsSoYummy and continue to show your support and all of your comments.  I cannot express how much it means to me.  I hope to continue my journey of sharing my recipes and love for all things yummy, and hope to continue to learn from all of you as well.

Happy Sunday!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Recipe from My Baking Addiction

*makes 24 cupcakes*

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

1 (18.25 ounce) package devil’s food cake mix
1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon instant espresso granules
1/2 cup warm water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tin with paper liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs, and vanilla. In a small bowl, combine instant espresso granules and warm water, stirring until dissolved. Add espresso mixture to the cake batter and stir until fully incorporated.

Using a cookie scoop distribute the batter between 24 muffin wells; about 3 tablespoons of batter per well.

Measure .4 ounce balls of cookie dough (about 1 teaspoon) and drop a ball of dough into each cupcake. Be sure to use a spoon to completely cover the dough ball with batter.

Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick entered into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

Remove cupcakes from muffin tins and allow to fully cool on a wire rack. Once cupcakes are cool, prepare your frosting.

For the Frosting:

Ingredients

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened
pinch of fine grain sea salt
1 tablespoon clear vanilla extract
2 pounds confectioners’ sugar, sifted
4-6 tablespoons heavy cream

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter until fluffy. Slowly add in confectioner’s sugar, and continue creaming until well blended.

Add salt, vanilla, and 3 tablespoons of heavy cream. Blend on low speed until moistened. Add an additional 1 to 3 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk until you reach the desired consistency. Beat at high speed until frosting is smooth and fluffy.

For the Garnish:

Garnish your cupcakes with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips and a mini chocolate chip cookie.

To make the mini cookies, I simply measured out 24 .4 ounce (about 1 teaspoon) balls of dough and baked them according to package directions (about 8-10 minutes). Allow mini cookies to cool completely before adding them to the cupcakes.

Have any of you heard of Usain Bolt? You know the fastest man in the world???

If any of you answered No then it’s time to get your heads out from under the rock your living.  Usain Bolt  is only the fastest man in the world.  Not to mention that he is Jamaican, Big Up my brothers and sisters.  But for real he is the 100m World record holder, winning it in 9.58 Seconds and the 200m in 19.19 Seconds.

I know its pretty amazing especially when you actually see him run on the field, breathtaking really.  We had the honor of being invited to cater for Usain while filming his New Gatorade Commercial in Orlando on UCF Campus.  Usain is launching a brand new Lemon Ice flavor which has been inspired by him: Gatorade Bolt.  This drink is available now in Sydney, Australia.

We knew that shooting was an all-day affair so we came out with big guns and created a specialty menu for him and his closest associates.  We knew that Usain was missing home, Jamaica, so we wanted to bring home to him…

The catering was a HUGE hit and all enjoyed all of the delicious food that was made, especially ThatsSoYummy’s Rum Cakes and Banana Bread.  Another Success for Crêpe Royale and ThatsSoYummy!

Here is a slideshow of the whole event, Enjoy!

(don’t you sometimes wish screens were scratch-n-sniff)

For all of those who are new to visiting ThatsSoYummy I welcome you with wide open arms.  For those of you who are loyal visitors I say Good Morning and Good Eats!  In case this is your first time stopping by, let me give you a brief overview of who and what ThatsSoYummy really is, its a place where beginner and advance foodies alike can come, browse and cook up delicious recipes they fall in love with.  ThatsSoYummy has not only been a great outlet for me to demonstrate all of the fabulous recipes I have stashed all over my house, for real I’m not kidding… all over… but its allowed me to share my passion of food with other people who have the same love for food.

If you have been following me on Twitter, or Facebook, or even just through Foodbuzz, you know that I have embarked on a new journey, Project Food Blog.  Project Food Blog was created by FoodBuzz, a food blogging community, where all FoodBuzz Featured Publishers are asked to test themselves in different challenges, after each challenge contestants will be weeded down to ONE winner and a grande prize of $10,000 and a special feature on Foodbuzz.com for one year.

Our 1st challenge is: “Ready, Set, Blog.”  This is our first entry into the competition, telling the public and judges, what defines me and my blog as unique and why I should win the next Food Blog Star.

ThatsSoYummy was created as a channel and a place to show my love for food.  It gave me an outlet from being a wife and mother and transported me to a whole new world full of people with my same passion, Food.  When I started ThatsSoYummy I was clueless to the blogosphere and at the beginning felt overwhelmed.  It took a long while to realize that I needed to be genuine with my feelings and give my readers a view into my life, (to learn about me click on over to here).  Bits and pieces of me are in all of my posts and recipes.  Knowing that someone is at home right now making one of the dishes they saw on ThatsSoYummy, is an AMAZING feeling.

Through my almost two years of blogging, I have met and befriended some amazing food and non-food bloggers and have learnt so much from each of them through their photography, recipes, and writing styles.  I take on their teachings everyday when I write.  I believe that I can be the next Project Food Blog Star not because I love food, but because in all that I do I make sure I put 110% and my whole heart on the line.  To expose oneself when writing gives my readers the knowledge that I am human like them and have the same fears, hopes, and dreams.  I just try to conquer mine through making a delicious meal and warming others bellies!

I ask you, my readers, new and old, why do you feel ThatsSoYummy should be the next Project Food Blog Star???  Not only leave a comment below but also make sure to vote!

**Voting opens September 20th-September 23**

**I promise cookies and brownies were not used to force readers decisions**

Love,

Tasha

Erica Lea is a high school graduate who has a desire to cook delicious healthy meals for her family of seven.  In her beautiful food blog, Cooking for Seven, Erica displays amazing recipes that have been inspired from her parents and her love of cooking naturally. Please welcome Erica to ThatsSoYummy’s Questionnaire this week.

* Sweet or Savory?

Savory. I do likes desserts, but they are often way too sweet.

* Which ingredient(s) do you use the most?

Butter. It makes just about everything taste better.

* What’s your favorite cooking smell?

Freshly baked bread. The smell is exhilarating.

* What is your most favorite cooking sound?

The sizzle when fresh vegetables hit a hot pan of oil.

* In the kitchen, what’s your most treasured possession?

Our santoku knife. It fits perfectly in my hands and is so sharp.

* What do you look for inside a dish?

Intense flavors; natural ingredients (no highly processed foods); a healthy twist.

* What is a “faux pas” in your kitchen?

Microwaving food. I cringe whenever I see people use it.

* Is there a food you will not eat?

No, but Crisco (or any trans fat) comes very close.

* What food is your guilty pleasure?

This is gonna sound weird, but I really like Frito’s chips with cheddar cheese.

* Have you ever changed how you feel towards a food?

Definitely! I used to hate mushroom & green peppers. Now I love them both.

* If you could prepare a dinner for anyone, who would it be?

My Dad. There is no one’s good opinion I crave more.

* If you could choose a living or historical cook to prepare a meal for you, who would it be?

Tyler Florence. His food is so traditional yet flavorful.

* Which food website/ or blog would you die without?

honeyandjam.com. Hannah’s photography & writing are wonderful.

* What is your favorite food related word?

Chiffonade. It’s just fun to say.

* What is your favorite food shopping experience?

I love visiting health food stores and imagining what I would buy if I had oodles of money.

* If you could move, which country would you move to for the food?

Somewhere in Asia – Thailand, perhaps.

* What’s the dress code in the kitchen when you cook?

Pretty relaxed. Sometimes I wear an apron, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I’m all dressed up, sometimes I cook in my pajamas.

* What would you request on the menu if it was your last supper?

Shrimp Curry.

* What food would you prepare to impress someone?

My Grandma’s poppy seed torte.

* What food are you craving right now?

Buttered toast spread with homemade strawberry jam.

* What is your comfort food?

Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips.

(Image by Wordle)

Angie McGowan not only has a love for cooking but also loves to experiment with different recipes and cuisines.  Angie’s delicious recipes can be found on her food blog, called Eclectic Recipes.  Please welcome Angie this week to ThatsSoYummy’s Yummy Questionnaire.

* Sweet or Savory?

Savory

* Which ingredient(s) do you use the most?

Olive Oil

* What’s your favorite cooking smell?

A roasting turkey stuffed with fresh herbs

* What is your most favorite cooking sound?

Frying chicken

* In the kitchen, what’s your most treasured possession?

My old large cast iron skillet

* What do you look for inside a dish?

Whole food ingredients, good aroma, aesthetically pleasing, full flavors

* What is a “faux pas” in your kitchen?

Flipping meat more than once.

* Is there a food you will not eat?

Just odd things, like green mangos and salt, I have to wait for them to ripen.

* What food is your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate

* Have you ever changed how you feel towards a food?

Yes, over the years, since I have been exposed to new cooking techniques, I have learned to like more foods.

* If you could prepare a dinner for anyone, who would it be?

50 cent, that poor boy just lost more than 50 pounds, he needs a good home cooked meal to put his weight back on.

* If you could choose a living or historical cook to prepare a meal for you, who would it be?

Alton Brown, his genius fascinates me.

* Which food website/ or blog would you die without?

Food Network, it is such a great resource to go back and check the recipe when you forgot to jot it down during a show.

* What is your favorite food related word?

Succulent

* What is your favorite food shopping experience?

You pick farms

* If you could move, which country would you move to for the food?

Southern France

* What’s the dress code in the kitchen when you cook?

Really? Ok, I usually jump in the shower before making dinner so it’s a cami, panties and sometimes an apron, if I’m frying. We also swim several times a week, so if I’m not in sleep ware, it’s a bikini.

* What would you request on the menu if it was your last supper?

For the appetizer, cumbers, tomatoes and radishes in white vinegar. My drink, a jack and coke. For dinner, fried chicken, homemade mac and cheese and collards with hot pepper vinegar. For desert, a whole key lime pie.

* What food would you prepare to seduce someone?

A cocktail margarita made with just Patron and fresh limes. A baked brie in phyllo dough stuffed with fancy, pitted olives for an appetizer. Lobster Bisque with sour dough rolls. Grilled Fillet Mignon with a morel cream sauce made with shallots and port wine. Roasted Asparagus. Scalloped potatoes made with havarti cheese. Mondavi Merlot, the big bottle. A trifle for dessert with brownie bits, chocolate moose, whipped cream and lots of raspberries.  Ending with a coffee made with Godiva chocolate coffee, cream, and Godiva chocolate liquor.

* What food are you craving right now?

Chocolate

* What is your comfort food?

Pasta

(Image by Worlde)

Heather Connell, like so many others realized that after marriage meant becoming a better cook for herself, her husband and two beautiful twin daughters.  Heather not only shares all of her delicious recipes on her beautiful food blog Multiply Delicious, but also has offers other areas for kids, mommy-hood, and her altogether random thoughts.  Please welcome Heather this week on ThatsSoYummy’s Yummy Questionnaire!

* Sweet or Savory?

Definitely sweet!

* Which ingredient(s) do you use the most?

For cooking, I love using fresh herbs and vegetables.  Basil being one of my favorites herbs to use.

For baking, I really like to try to use as much whole grains as I can in a recipe.  White Wheat Flour has the same nutrient value as wheat flour but has a sweeter flavor to it so with two little ones I like using the white wheat.  I also love, love cinnamon.

* What’s your favorite cooking smell?

I actually have several that come to mind and all for different reasons.

Cookies –It makes me think of my mom because she is a great baker and always was making cookies when I was growing up.  During the holidays our kitchen was like a cookie factory.  I think every day she was making cookies for the neighbors, friends and family.

Bacon – Makes me think of my grandmother and being in her kitchen.  She is a firm believer in breakfast and bacon is always part of that too.  And yes, I grew up in the South and bacon was always a common breakfast dish.

Banana Bread – My twin girls love bananas and they especially love my banana bread so I love baking it for them and it makes the house smell super yummy too.

* What is your most favorite cooking sound?

Sizzle – the sound when the food hits the pan or grill.

* In the kitchen, what’s your most treasured possession?

Oh wow!  This is a hard one because I have so many.  I love my standing mixer, it was a wedding gift and I love it.  I also love my cooking knives because it makes chopping, dicing, etc a world of difference.

* What do you look for inside a dish?

Color and smell.  I really think you use your senses before even taking that first bite.  You look with your eyes and smell with your nose and most of the time that will determine if you like or want a dish.

* What is a “faux pas” in your kitchen?

I really don’t think there is one.  I have made a lot of mistakes in my kitchen over the years and I have had some great laughs from them.  I really think you learn from those and it makes you better as a cook.

* Is there a food you will not eat?

I actually don’t eat red meat.  I gave it up in 7^th grade and have never eaten it since.  I got major food poisoning and swore it off. Red meat is still cooked in my kitchen, but it’s mostly done by my husband who is a red meat eater.

* What food is your guilty pleasure?

Anything sweet, I have a huge sweet tooth and sometimes it can get the best of me.  I have learned to have in moderation.

* Have you ever changed how you feel towards a food?

Yes, I used to not like avocado.  I know, can you believe that?  Now I love it and use it a lot in dishes.

* If you could choose a living or historical cook to prepare a meal for you, who would it be?

Oh this one is hard for me because I have three chefs that are my top favorite list.  I think if I had to choose one, it would probably have to be Paula Deen.  The reason being is because she reminds me of home and growing up in the south.  She makes me smile and I know she would be a lot of fun and to me that is important.  I would maybe just have to tell her not as much butter.

* Which food website/ or blog would you die without?

I have a lot of favorite blogs.  There is such a great community of creative bloggers out there.  I’m amazed every day!  Since I can’t just name one here are a few for the different areas I love.  I look at these blogs almost every day or once a week.

Design – Rock Paper Scissors, Making it Lovely, Tom Kat Studio

Fashion – Mrs. Lilien

Food – so many…. Bakerella, Picky Palate, Annie Eats, My Baking Addiction

Overall – Like many I love Pioneer Woman; she’s real, she’s cute, she makes me laugh, and she makes me cry.

* What is your favorite food related word?

Cupcake – I just think of nice things when I hear the word cupcake.  It makes me smile!

* What is your favorite food shopping experience?

I used to live in San Francisco and I always loved going to the outdoor farmer’s market.  It always had such amazing fresh ingredients and most of them were all local.  I was like a kid in a candy store.

* If you could move, which country would you move to for the food?

Italy – wine, pasta, bread, pizza and gelato….what could be better?

* What’s the dress code in the kitchen when you cook?

Comfortable, whatever that may be on that day.  Sometimes an apron and sometimes not.

* What would you request on the menu if it was your last supper?

I would have the red snapper with mango avocado salsa from my favorite restaurant.  And the all the desserts my little heart could desire.

* What food would you prepare to seduce someone?

The only person I would be seducing is my husband and I can honestly say he loves food and would be seduced by most anything.  However like me, sweets would be the ticket if I did have to do major seducing.  That would mean anything with cheesecake or a chocolate and peanut butter combination…or all three!

* What food are you craving right now?

Cinnamon Rolls, I love them.

* What is your comfort food?

Chicken Noodle Soup – When I was pregnant with the twins there wasn’t much that tasted good or would stay down.  I was a sick mommy for about 32 weeks.  My mom’s chicken noodle soup was the only thing that tasted good to me, and has been that way since I was a little girl.  When my mom came down to visit she would make me tons and freeze half of it so all I had to do was heat it up.  Chicken Noodle Soup has that way of making you feel all nice and cozy.

(Image by Wordle)

Racheal from La Fuji Mama incorporates this beautiful statement “Variety is the spice of life,” in her beautiful world rounded food blog called La Fuji Mama.  Racheal has not only lived all over the globe but has also been able to share with all of her readers all of the many recipes she has learnt through her travels.  Please help me to welcome her to ThatsSoYummy’s Questionnaire for the week.

* Sweet or Savory?

It depends on my mood!  Although I have a MAJOR sweet tooth, my “savory tooth” has grown a lot over the years.

* Which ingredient(s) do you use the most?

If we’re talking cooking ingredients, it’s probably a tie between garlic and ginger.  If we’re talking baking ingredients, then it would be flour.  I bake a lot of bread.

* What’s your favorite cooking smell?

The smell of baking bread.  It just doesn’t get any better than that!

* What is your most favorite cooking sound?

Although it’s not a true cooking sound, I’d have to say the sound of my 3-year-old’s chatter.  As she has gotten older, she has been helping me more and more in the kitchen.  I love hearing her cute little voice talking excitedly about what we are making.

* In the kitchen, what’s your most treasured possession?

My favorite wooden spoon.  I use it for everything!

* What do you look for inside a dish?

I have very eclectic tastes when it comes to food.  I just look for “good food.”

* What is a “faux pas” in your kitchen?

Putting my favorite knives or my wooden spoon in the dishwasher.  Those items are hand washed and dried immediately after being used.

* Is there a food you will not eat?

I have yet to eat anything that I can say I truly don’t like.  That’s not to say I haven’t had any bad meals—far from it!  Of course, there is food that I choose not to eat for health or environmental reasons.

* What food is your guilty pleasure?

Nutella.  Give me a jar of Nutella and a spoon and I’m a happy camper.  My oldest daughter agrees. I have to hide the Nutella jar from her!

* Have you ever changed how you feel towards a food?

When I was little I could not bring myself to eat sweet potatoes.  I would try them every year at Thanksgiving year where they were served topped with marshmallows and brown sugar, and every year I still hated them.  Then, when Mr. Fuji and I moved to Japan the first time, I got a taste of a roasted sweet potato and I fell in love.  I have since learned to like the Thanksgiving sweet potatoes, but I still prefer them roasted!

* If you could prepare a dinner for anyone, who would it be?

My closest friends and family.  There’s nothing better than cooking with love for those you love.

* If you could choose a living or historical cook to prepare a meal for you, who would it be?

Iron Chef Morimoto, especially if I could sit in the kitchen while he cooked.  He cracks me up!

* Which food website/ or blog would you die without?

That is such a hard question to answer! It’s like trying to choose a favorite child…I just can’t!  So how about I tell you ONE of my favorites?  Chocolate & Zucchini, this is the 1^st blog I ever started reading and I’m still reading it!

* What is your favorite food related word?

Unctuous.  I have yet to use it on my blog, but it is one of my favorite words in general!

* What is your favorite food shopping experience?

I love going to markets in other countries.  I could spend hours exploring this way.  So much to see, learn, and taste!  Culinary tourism is one of my favorite activities.

* If you could move, which country would you move to for the food?

Japan.  Out of any place I’ve lived or travelled to, Japan has consistently had the best food overall.  I found it difficult to have a truly bad meal, whereas it seems quite easy to do so in other places!  Plus, I have a weak spot for Japanese food.  I love the flavors.

* What’s the dress code in the kitchen when you cook?

I’m always barefoot (we don’t wear shoes in the house—a habit we picked up living in Japan) and wearing my favorite apron that my mother-in-law made for me.  Other than that, there is no dress code!

* What would you request on the menu if it was your last supper?

My answer to this question would probably change every week!  I’m always finding new favorites.  Today, it would probably include an amazing dal and a flourless carrot cake that I had recently at a restaurant in Los Angeles.  Other than that, I’d probably request a bowl of miso soup, a spicy tuna roll (my favorite sushi roll), a simple baby arugula salad, some homemade bread, and some kind of really rich dark chocolate dessert.  I mean, if this is my last supper, I’ve got to have more than one dessert, right?

* What food would you prepare to seduce someone?

Homemade bread.  I think that homemade bread is one of the most wonderful things on the planet.

* What food are you craving right now?

Chocolate.  I’m always craving chocolate!

* What is your comfort food?

Chocolate.  Do you see a trend here?

(Image by Wordle)

It’s Wedenesday and although the weekend is over I have been re-cooperating from all of the baking I did last week for Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale we had this past Saturday.  If you all haven’t already heard all about it then here’s a brief update, food bloggers nationwide banned together to be part of the The Great American Bake Sale Challenge, in their different cities and hosted bake sales filled with delectable goodies.  All of the proceeds we received were then sent to Share Our strength to help in the ending of childhood hunger.

This was such an amazing event for me and my partners in crime… Rachel from Laptops and Stovetops and Angie from Southern Grace Gourmet.  These gals were the bestest and brought some of the most yummy treats ever.

We had…

Homemade Granola and Tropical Chocolate Chip Cookies from Rachel…

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins…

Even Angie’s little one is enjoying them so much

Rice Krispie Treats …

Banana Bread Loaves…

Fresh Bagels and Raspberry Bars from Davis Bakery & Co. who were so kind to donate their delicious treats…

We even had a whole entire table dedicated to cupcakes…. it was a beauty!

Angie made Hershey Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting…

Hummingbird Cupcakes (with Pineapple, Nuts, and Banana)…

Carrot Cupcakes…

Low-fat Chiffon Cupcakes…

… and last but not least Sour Cream Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting…. This was my favorite!  I ate TWO in 5 minutes!

We had an amazing time at the park and saw some really incredible things like… One customer buying so many goods she actually had to tie them on to her bike…

and then we had the BIGGEST most EXCITING thing happen at the bake sale…

A man came with his kids and saw what we were doing and was so happy to help that he gave us a 100 dollar bill! That’s right you heard me $100 buckaroos… of course I thought I was hallucinating but Rachel had to say “Natasha, he is SERIOUS!”

It was a beautiful day that raised $300.00 for a great cause!  Thank you Gaby, from What’s Gaby Cooking, for spearheading the First National Food Bloggers Bake Sale… Count me in for next years event!

It will only be bigger and better!

Carrie Vitt‘s main goal is to try and uncomplicate organic cooking and make it more accessible and for home cooks alike.  Carrie provides easy and simple recipes on her beautiful food blog, Deliciously Organic.  Not only can you learn first hand from Carrie in her cooking classes but you can also await for her cookbook that will be making its appearance September 2010.  Please welcome her this week to ThatsSoYummy.

* Sweet or Savory?

Sweet

* Which ingredient(s) do you use the most?

Coconut oil, butter and cream

* What’s your favorite cooking smell?

Apples and caramel

* What is your most favorite cooking sound?

The hiss of the pan when I add water after sautéing rice in butter.

* In the kitchen, what’s your most treasured possession?

My 12 quart hammered copper pot my husband bought for me at Dehillerin in Paris.

* What do you look for inside a dish?

Fresh, wholesome, organic ingredients.  I also look for recipes I can change to use only whole ingredients.

* What is a “faux pas” in your kitchen?

Don’t really have one.

* Is there a food you will not eat?

Chicken livers.  My Mom used to make them when I was a kid and even though my tastes have changed, I just don’t think I would ever try them again.

* What food is your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate

* Have you ever changed how you feel towards a food?

Years ago my health was completely changed for the better when I began using only whole, organic ingredients.  I’m off all my medications that I relied on so heavily in the past and now my goal is to show others how to cook using only the purest ingredients.

* If you could prepare a dinner for anyone, who would it be?

My family

* If you could choose a living or historical cook to prepare a meal for you, who would it be?

Ina Garten.  She can have me over to eat in her barn anytime.

* Which food website/ or blog would you die without?

I really love Tartelette…I am a bit bias since she is doing the photography for my book, but really, her photography can’t be beat.

* What is your favorite food shopping experience?

Any food shopping with my Dad…he throws anything new he sees in the cart. It’s always an interesting experience.

* If you could move, which country would you move to for the food?

France

* What’s the dress code in the kitchen when you cook?

Jeans,  J.Crew Tee, and an apron.   I always have an apron on, so much that my friends jab me for it.  I’ve confused many delivery men when they show up with a package and there I am in my apron.

* What would you request on the menu if it was your last supper?

Chocolate, and then more chocolate.

* What food would you prepare to seduce someone?

Chocolate…I think there’s a theme here.

* What food are you craving right now?

A glass of wine

* What is your comfort food?

Pasta.  Every Sunday night I make a big bowl and enjoy.

(Image by Wordle)