Me and My Love of Food
I was born in California, grew up around food and I love all things that involve food and wine! I learned to cook when I was very young - my grandmother and both my parents were pretty avid cooks. I've always loved entertaining - whether that means cooking for one other person or hosting a cocktail party for 50, I love having friends over for great food and wine. Cooking, especially for others, can be so enjoyable and is such a great way to connect with friends and family.
I started this blog because I wanted to share recipes with friends, and inspire people to try something new. I didn’t want those of you who cook only for yourselves or for yourself and one other person to feel like you have limited options so I've designed the majority of my recipes to be small batch (serving 2-3 people) because these recipes can be difficult to find. It's much easier to double, or even triple a recipe than to try to figure out how to cut it in half when it calls for something like one egg that does not easily divide.
I've also started to include more meal prep tips so you can make or prep portions of the recipe in advance. I find that meal prepping really helps me to eat better and not struggle with the "what should I eat?" question on a daily basis.
I’ve morphed my love of making food to become a recipe creating, photo-taking, storytelling, food blogging content creator. Since in my world, wine is an integral part of the food experience, I occasionally throw in suggestions for wine pairings or thoughts on some of my favorites.
In life, I'm trying to balance my love of food and wine with my desire to get fit, so I include healthier versions of foods that I love, along with some really great indulgences too - life is short so you should enjoy every moment, and that includes your food and wine!! My motto in a hashtag - #lovethelifeyoulive
While most of my focus is on recipes for two, and most people I know are often cooking for one or two, I also love to entertain so I try to toss in a few posts focused on entertaining (i.e. cooking for a group). Food is a great way to bring people together!
I get my inspiration for recipes from a lot of places - dishes I have in restaurants, things I see in food magazines or on other blogs, and things I used to have when I was a kid. Believe it or not, I’m kind of a picky eater, so sometimes when I read a recipe I think - “what if I just changed XXXX” and that’s often how new recipes are born.
Through the blog, I've also discovered my love of food photography! I love telling you a story through the photographs for each recipe.
Some Fun Facts About Me
I love espresso and all forms of espresso drinks, and must have my morning mocha or latte to function! I love the beach. I love sailing. I love the mountains. I love traveling. While I like to live in my yoga clothes when I’m writing I love to get dressed up and go out - especially when it involves checking out a new restaurant or wine bar or catching up with friends. And of course, any foodie event is always high on my list of fun things to do! I still love to take cooking classes, mostly at the Chopping Block in Chicago. People always ask me “what’s my favorite thing to cook?” - I don’t really have a favorite thing. I love experimenting in the kitchen and trying new things.
And I’m desperately trying to expand my veggie liking - I have a really hard time with this! My favorite foods include cheese (pretty much any type), avocados, crab and wine (I consider that a food!) I like to come up with dishes that are interesting, yet not impossible to make. Sometimes you'll notice I use store-bought ingredients for basic things, like pico de gallo, that while easy to make can be time-consuming. Saving this time, lets you focus on the details of the dish.
When I was a kid I alternated between wanting to be a lawyer and wanting to be a chef - I even worked for a caterer when I was in college and learned a lot about how to put different flavors together, plan menus, and prep food for large groups of people. Since I didn't pursue going to culinary school, this blog is a way for me to be creative and share my love of food with all of you. Through it I hope to inspire you to make a new dish, to explore food and wine, or to visit a new restaurant.
Urban Foodie Kitchen Featured Work
- NBC News - How to Build a Better Smoothie, according to a Nutritionist (Peach Protein Smoothie Bowl)
- Southern Living - 25 Spectacular Skillet Pizzas (Mini Skillet Pizzas with Kale Pesto & Italian Sausage)
- NBC News - The Health Benefits of Avocados (Edamame Avocado Hummus)
- The Morning Brew - Super Bowl Food Guide (Balsamic Glazed Melon, Prosciutto and Mozzarella Skewers)
- Buzzfeed Food - 25 Snacks Everyone Should Have on their Movie Night (Bacon Jalapeno Popcorn)
- Brit + Co - 14 Times Ricotta Cheese Made Dinner Better (Quinoa and Ricotta Meatballs with Zoodles)
Want to know more? You can connect with me on social media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Blog Lovin’
I'd love to hear from you - let me know your thoughts on things you'd like to see me write about, a recipe you want to see updated, or an ingredient you'd like me to incorporate, so please feel free to send me a note or comment on a post. Thanks for stopping by!!