Easy deliciousness:

Food Blogger Spotlight: Two Lazy Gourmets 0 Email 2 0 Share 10 Tweet 1 Today our Sunday Food Blogger Spotlight falls on two self-proclaimed, “lazy foodies,” Robin Donovan and Juliana Gallin, who co-author the blog, Two Lazy Gourmets. As friends and “kitchen collaborators” since they were housemates in college, the women have created a blog filled with tasty recipes, gorgeous photos and fun tidbits about their inspiration for each dish. Why did you start your food blog? We started it to promote our cookbook,The Lazy Gourmet: Magnificent Meals Made Easy. But now that we’ve been at it for two years, it’s taken on a life of its own. We’ve been friends since college, and many of our early bonding experiences were based around cooking experiments. In fact, they still are. Now we get to share those experiments with the whole internet. How would you describe your approach to eating/health? We cook most of our food from scratch. We always start with good quality ingredients, like fresh produce and organic meats. We do take shortcuts, like using pre-cubed butternut squash or store-bought pie crusts, but even then, we buy products that contain only natural ingredients whenever possible. We’re both drawn more to veggies and fish than to meat, but our “approach” also includes an obsession with cheese, donuts, and bacon, so it’s not like we’re strict health nuts. Have you always had an interest in healthy food or did it come later in life? We were both addicted to junk food as kids. Robin craved the packaged foods that weren’t allowed in her health-conscious household—frozen chicken pot pies, sugar cereals, and white bread. Juliana loved candy and Pringles, and celebrated Junk Food Day—one day a year when her mother would allow her to stuff herself sick on anything she wanted. We came around to eating healthy foods as we became more adept at cooking. What is your favorite (or a few of your favorites) food/ingredient to use in the kitchen? Our list of favorite ingredients is practically endless, but here are a few that we reach for frequently: fennel, goat cheese, fresh herbs, chilies, citrus fruits, creme fraiche, dried mushrooms, nuts, olives, and balsamic vinegar. Has blogging changed the way you view food and cooking? If so, how? It’s made us think more about what kinds of recipes people really want. People love indulgent food that’s full of flavor. We like to eat healthy so we’ve had to figure out how to make food that’s flavorful without being overloaded with fat and sugar. Everyone wants delicious food and if you can make it healthy, too, it’s a total bonus. Favorite recipe to date? One of our newest recipes, for Roasted Beet and White Bean Hummus fits the Lazy Gourmet profile to a tee: It’s super easy to make, delicious, and surprising in both flavor and appearance. Three recipes you’d like to share with our readers? Spicy Korean Gochujang Chicken Muhammara (Syrian Red Pepper, Walnut, and Pomegranate Dip Easy, Dairy-Free Thai Black Rice Pudding with Coconut Milk Robin and Juliana are featured in our series of spotlights on healthy food bloggers. Be sure to check back next Sunday to meet another food blogger in our midst. Also Read Food Blogger Spotlight: Diane from The Canning Diva Food Blogger Spotlight: Kelsey Brown of Happyolks Food Blogger Spotlight: Kate Webster of The Little Loaf July 14th, 2013
Read more at http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/07/food-blogger-spotlight-two-lazy-gourmets/#R6Aw6XfxK3kiYCsr.99

Cupcakes Take the Cake -sweet!

Ladies We Love: Rachel, Nichelle and Stacie of Cupcakes Take the Cake

Written on October 14, 2009 at 12:20 pm, by sharmon

Rachel Kramer Bussel, Nichelle Stephens (pictured at right) and Stacie Joy are the women behind one of the sweetest blogs we know, Cupcakes Take the Cake. Now you may be wondering when the whole cupcake fad is going to blow over, but these ladies have been blogging since 2004 and they’re convinced that cupcakes are here to stay. Cupcake lovers come toCTTC for recipes, decorating ideas, event listings—you can even find a cupcake shop in your area. So give their blog a look, and we totally don’t blame you for stopping by a bakery on your way home!

Rachel Kramer Bussel
What makes me a lady: I write thank you notes (and send snail mail), I’m a good friend and I try to think outside of the box.
Favorite guilty pleasure: Tabloid magazines. (Love ‘em and read way too many of them.)
Three things on my life list: Become a mom, cook a fabulous meal for someone special and get published in The New York Times.
If I could have a superpower, it would be: Mind reading.
Ladies I admire: Jeannette Walls, Martha Stewart, Michelle Obama, Anna Quindlen, Mary Lou Lord, Guinevere Turner, Christina Hendricks, Madonna, Virginia Postrel, Molly Crabapple, Samara O’Shea, Hollis Gillespie and Mary Pols.

Nichelle Stephens
What makes me a lady: I enjoy hosting events, making introductions and connecting people. Hopefully my efforts make New York City seem more like a friendly small town than a big scary city.
Favorite guilty pleasure: Cupcakes.
Three things on my life list: Owning my own home, meeting Oprah Winfrey and visiting Hong Kong.
If I could have a superpower, it would be: To teleport myself down to Atlanta whenever my Dad makes his famous chili.

Ladies I admire: My mom (Regina Stephens), Santigold (recording artist) and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Stacie Joy
What makes me a lady: I’m a hard-working, driven, empathetic, well-mannered, witty and amusing woman. I’m also a lady because I was raised to be one—manners are important to me, even as they become less-important to those around me. I am a lady because I remain old-fashioned when it isn’t politically correct, and maternal, even though I have no children. You can also call me a lady because I am a mass of contradictions, a work in progress, and devoted and loyal to those I love.
Favorite guilty pleasure: Cupcaking, for sure.
Three things on my life list: Around-the-world travel (still so many places I have yet to see!), making a difference and leaving a legacy.
If I could have a superpower, it would be: Invisibility.
Ladies I admire: The list is very long…Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sandra Day O’Connor, Sojourner Truth, Margaret Sanger, Rosa Parks, Virginia Woolf, Marilyn Monroe, Mother Teresa, Diane Arbus. Alice Waters, Bettie Page, Janis Joplin, Lily Tomlin, Julia Child, Drew Barrymore, J.K. Rowling, Tina Fey, Gypsy Rose Lee, Margaret Cho, Erica Jong, Donna Jean Godchaux, Billie Holiday, Cleopatra, Nancy Pelosi, Anne Frank, Frida Kahlo, Isabel Allende, Maya Angelou, Sally Ride, Ann Corio, Joni Mitchell, and Susan Faludi. (I am sure I am forgetting so many!)

Categories: Food, Fun | Tags: Cupcakes, Cupcakes Take the Cake, dessert, Ladies We Love, Life List | 1 Comment

One Response to “Ladies We Love: Rachel, Nichelle and Stacie of Cupcakes Take the Cake”

1. Written on October 14, 2009 at 2:40 pm, by Tweets that mention | The Ladies' Lounge --