Twenty Questions with Chaos in the Kitchen
Our featured blogger this week is Katie from chaos in the kitchen, although her site is far from chaotic! See below for examples of her delicious photography, then head over to her site for the accompanying recipes and much, much more.
How long have you had a food blog (or other foodie type site)?
I started chaos in the kitchen in May 2008.
How would you describe your site to new readers?
It is a collection of tried and true family recipes and cooking advice.
What made you decide to start your site?
I started citk as a virtual recipe box for myself, my kids and extended family, and friends. I am still probably my biggest fan. I use my website daily to find recipes for people or to decide what’s for dinner.
Is there any personal meaning behind the name?
Like many people I am juggling kids, house work, a job, pets, friends, a husband, and to add cooking dinner to the mix sometimes feels overwhelming. I want to share with others the recipes and tricks I use to get meals on the table without going crazy. In other words, you can do this despite the chaos in your kitchen.
What advice do you have for new bloggers?
Write about something you are truly passionate about and set achievable goals from the beginning. I could literally talk about food and cooking all day and I read cook books like other people read novels, so a food blog is the perfect outlet for me. As much as I would love to provide step by step preparation photos for each recipe, with our busy life I would never be able to maintain it, so my goal is to get a nice final shot of every dish and to put up about three posts a week.
What’s the best thing about being a food blogger?
It keeps me focused. I would order take-out every night if I didn’t have to be accountable to my three posts per week goal.
What the worst?
Sometimes I just want to order a pizza or to make dinner and eat it without having to set up photos or save presentable leftovers for photographing later. At least our kids and our friends are accustomed to the process by now. You know you have good friends when they stop you from digging in to remind you to take a picture.
What food blog inspires you the most?
This is a really hard question because there are so many bloggers out there
I really admire. I really enjoy reading The Way the Cookie Crumbles . Bridget posts consistent, tasty recipes, beautiful photos, and writes her posts in an approachable, friendly voice – everything I aspire to for citk.
What camera do you use?
I have a Nikon D50 and a D700.
Do you have any formal training in the field of cooking?
No. I have been teaching myself how to cook via cooking shows, cook books, the internet, and practice for about 8 years.
Do you watch a lot of cooking on TV?
I used to have the food network on 24/7 but in the last few years I have found myself really enjoying the reality shows like Top Chef.
Do you have a favorite chef, celebrity or otherwise?
I am currently Rick Bayless’ biggest fan. Also, Plinio Sandalio, a local pastry chef, is a creative genius whom I keep in touch with via his website, bakin ‘n’ bacon, and on facebook.
How challenging has it been to find a loyal reader base?
I am not sure I have a loyal reader base other than my friends and family and a handful of other bloggers who have be-friended me. Many of the comments I get from readers is that my blog is full of “practical, simple solutions” and “is like a conversation between friends at the kitchen table” which are the highest of compliments.
What types of food do you enjoy preparing most?
I like dishes that are quick to put together yet make people go, “wow, you made this? How do I make it?”
Do you have a signature dish or two?
We have a family recipe cheesecake that I get requests for a lot during the holidays. The rest of the year it’s fajitas, pizza bites, and my lemon meringue pie.
Favorite kitchen gadget?
Seriously my favorite kitchen gadget is my big bamboo cutting board and a sharp knife. I have all of the gadgets one would expect but I hate having to clean them so I use them as sparingly as possible. Although, I do love my silpat baking sheet liners and my Kitchenaid mixer.
If you could choose to be any food, what would it be?
Hmmm, choose to be any food, huh? Probably gruel or dirt cakes or something else nobody wants to eat.
If you could banish just one food from the earth, what would it be?
Honestly, I think there is a place for everything in moderation.
What’s the one super power you wish you had?
I’ll get all sentimental on you here: I wish I had the ability to ensure my kids had long happy healthy lives.
What’s your favorite thing about “Refrigerator Soup”?
I like the way the folks at Refrigerator Soup have reached out to the food blogging community. Rather than showcasing only delicious-looking food photos, Refrigerator Soup is highlighting the people and websites responsible for them.
To see more of Katie’s fabulous food photography, delicious recipes and to subscribe to her blog, please visit her at chaos in the kitchen.
To learn about how you can get Featured, please email us at twentyquestions [at] refrigeratorsoup [dot] com. Note: Priority is given to those bloggers who consistently submit photographs, so please keep that in mind before inquiring. We are not adding to the schedule at this time as we are currently booked through mid-March, 2010, but welcome inquiries from those interested in being featured (we will respond to those inquiries sometime in February).
Featured bloggers from weeks past…
Twenty Questions with Behind the Skillet
Twenty Questions with Thin Crust Deep Dish
Twenty Questions with Guilty Kitchen
Twenty Questions with A Good Appetite
Twenty Questions with Sunita’s World
Twenty Questions with Spicie Foodie
Twenty Questions with Greedy Gourmet
Twenty Questions with Sweetopia
Twenty Questions with Real Mom Kitchen
Twenty Questions with Inspired Taste
