Lyndsay ~The Kitchen Witch's interview
Interview by LydiaWe interviewed Lyndsay ~The Kitchen Witch!
Visit the blog: The Kitchen Witch - changing everyday ingredients into something beautiful.
"My passion is in showing people that as long as you have two clean hands, a good knife, a heat source, and great ingredients it can be done!"
Hello Lyndsay ~The Kitchen Witch, so tell us...
When did you begin your blog, and what inspired you to start it?
I began The Kitchen Witch blog in 2008. Prior that, however, I was active on the internet; starting in 2000 when I created a community for women on MSN called Maven's Haven. Within the community women from all over the world shared recipes, dreams, and the stories of their lives and I'm proud to say I remain in contact with almost all of them. From MSN I moved to Myspace where I had one of the Top 10 Food and Cooking blogs for years. It featured me writing under the pen name"Maven" and along with recipes, I documented the hilarious happenings of day to day family life. But when my son graduated from high school and went away to college I closed that blog knowing some chapters eventually come to an end. Around that time I was reading a trilogy of books by Nora Roberts about a trio of three witches and I fell in love with the idea of being a Kitchen Witch and I've been making magic in the kitchen ever since!
Are you involved in the blogging community - how do you attract new readers?
When I'm not developing recipes, I'm a supervisor at a crisis center where I run a busy public education department. Because of this I don't have the same opportunities to be as active in the blogging community as I would like. I do, however, have a large subscriber base of people who trust my recipes. I'm a food contributor at the website Sweatpants and Coffee, an Ambassador for The Real Women of Philadelphia website through KRAFT Foods Canada, and an active participant in The Canadian Food Bloggers Experience Project.
I attract many new readers via my Youtube channel "CHARMED" with the Kitchen Witch and other social media like Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Who are your culinary influences?
I've been fortunate to work with and learn from many of my culinary influences. In 2011, I submitted a recipe for a stuffed pork tenderloin in a contest called The Real Women of Philadelphia and ended up winning $20,000.00! I was flown to Toronto Canada with 14 other finalists and got to work with Chef Anna Olson and her food stylist Lisa Rollo in creating two original online videos for KRAFT featuring my recipes for Salmon Bundles, and Tex Mex Chicken Crepes. I have also had opportunity to work with and learn from Chefs Laura Calder, Dana McCauley, Jason Rosso, Maggie McKeowan, and Mara Jernigan.
What is your earliest food memory?
I remember my mom making me soft boiled eggs with butter and salt when I was about a year old. I remember just loving them! My mom wrote "Likes to eat" under special accomplishments in my baby book and that is certainly a trend I have continued!
What was your experience like on the popular Canadian cooking competition Recipes to Riches?
In 2012 I appeared on the Food Network Canada show “Recipe to Riches” with my original recipe for Asian Snack Wraps. Snack Wraps are made with a Korean style sweet and spicy pork mixture that's wrapped in crispy chewy scallion style pancakes. My recipe was chosen over thousands of recipes from across the country and I eventually came in second place after having to prepare 300 portions in 3 hours on camera. It was an unforgettable experience that I just loved - especially the challenge of batch cooking! It was also really fun to be part of a TV show and see all of the behind the scenes action most people aren't privy to.
Tell us about CHARMED With The Kitchen Witch.
CHARMED with The Kitchen Witch is my latest project. I enjoyed working on camera so much for The Real Women of Philadelphia and Recipe to Riches that I decided to create a cooking channel of my own on Youtube. The purpose is to have easy to follow, step by step videos to go with all of my recipes so that cooks of any level can learn how to create their own magic. I was fortunate last year to be asked by ifoodtv to be a featured partner with them so I also earn a little money through my channel.
Is there any dish, ingredient or type of food you refuse to cook?
I'm very big on creating dishes that use sustainable ingredients and like to know where my meat is coming from so I do buy local as much as possible. I'm not big on offal and don't usually cook with it.
When you have a last minute get together, what are your go to dishes?
I make great quiche and often keep two or three in the freezer for last minute company. I also have incredible recipes for seafood lasagna, beef lasagna, and French Canadian meat pies that I always keep in the freezer over the holiday season for quick entertaining. Another favourite go to dish is warm roasted beet salad with pancetta, pine nuts, and chevre cheese. Serve that with my recipe for Quick Cheese bread warm from the oven and a little wine and you've got a party!
What are your goals for your blog? Where would you like to see it in the next year? Five years?
I am an educator by trade. Over the next five years I will be gearing down my professional life in the world of crisis and hope to expand my culinary horizons by partnering with food related groups, blogging, developing new recipes and teaching people how to cook. I am most interested in cooks who think recipes are above them because they don't have fancy equipment. My passion is in showing people that as long as you have two clean hands, a good knife, a heat source, and great ingredients it can be done!
Anything else you would like to share?
Thank you so much for featuring me in this way. It has been an honour.
Thank you Lyndsay ~The Kitchen Witch for answering our questions and see you soon!
Published by Lydia - 11/26/2013
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