Interview with Allie from Finding Inspiration In Food

Allie from Finding Inspiration In Food.

Finding Inspiration In Food is a great cooking and foodie blog.  To learn more about Allie and her site, click one of the links in this article!

HG: Tell us who you are and why you cook.

Allie: My name is Allison, but on my blog Finding Inspiration In Food, I go by Allie which is a nickname that’s stuck over the years. Since my husband and I love to travel and try new restaurants I recently started another blog A Traveling Foodie’s Review. I love being inspired by all the places we’ve been! I just love cooking because it brings people together and it’s a huge creative outlet for me.

HG: When did you start cooking?

Allie: I’m not sure when I started cooking, I just always remember being in the kitchen helping my mom and dad stir or combine ingredients and then moving on to compete in cook-offs with them as I got older. I knew from an early age I wanted my career to be cooking, even though all my teachers said yeah ok you’ll change your mind. It’s just always been a passion of mine. My dad has been a huge inspiration to me by marketing his own seasoning and showing me if you work hard your dreams can come true.

HG: How did you get started blogging?

Allie: I got into blogging through a friend I met at a cook-off. I thought it would be a great way to store recipes as well as share with friends and family instead of emailing them out every time they requested them. After thinking about how to set myself aside from the other blogs I decided to do step by step photos instead of one finished beauty shot for those cooks who are just starting out. My blog has a mixture of original recipes, ones I try and everything else food related I like to share.

HG: What is your favorite cooking blog?

Allie: I follow a lot of blogs so I’m not sure I have an overall favorite. Halloween is my favorite holiday so I love reading Hungry Halloween for ideas. Another blog I love reading is Mary from One Perfect Bite.

HG: Describe your cooking style in three words.

Spicy Pasta with Sweet Potatoes - Click for Article

Allie: Easy, comforting, inspiring.

HG: Where do you get inspiration for the dishes you cook?

Allie: I start with flavors I like then try to add a new twist on them, I really like presentation so I try to think of different ways to plate it since we eat with our eyes first. Usually I get inspired by wandering the grocery store, fresh produce or fruit at the market, by other bloggers, or magazines & cookbooks.

HG: Favorite cookbook?

Allie: I have so many cookbooks, but one I would never get rid of is my Betty Croker’s New Cookbook called Everything You Need To Know To Cook. It’s a great reference book for someone learning to cook and covers all the basics. There are so many others I have that I love, it’s hard to say what my other favorites are.

HG: What is your favorite meal to cook?

Allie: Anything with pasta, I also have an old favorite garlic cream cheese topped stuffed mozzarella chicken I love to make.

HG: What is one thing that must be in your pantry at all times?

Allie: A good assortment of spices. You can always fix up even a simple frozen dinner with the right seasonings.

HG: What one kitchen gadget could you not live without?

Allie: Oh man you’re killing me! I feel like I have to play favorites…ummm probably my multi timer. Sounds odd but I’m horrible at keeping time in the kitchen so having 3 timers in one really helps keep me from burning things, especially around the holidays.

HG: What’s your favorite thing to whip up for a quick dinner?

Spinach Bowls Filled With Flavored Rice Topped With Grilled Shrimp - Click for Article

Allie: I’m an Italian girl at heart so I like to make a bunch of fresh pasta when I have free time and stick it in the freezer so when I’m short on time it just takes a couple of seconds to boil and I have dinner on the table. Same with the pasta sauce it’s easy to defrost in the microwave and toss with the pasta.

HG: Best advice you would give other food bloggers?

Allie: Don’t worry about trying to be the hottest trend or blogging everyday. Blog from your heart, that’s why people follow you in the first place. There’s nothing wrong with sharing the recipe flops as well, people need to know you’re human and not every recipe out there is a home run. I love to hear feedback, so if you try any of the bloggers recipes let them know.

HG: Anything else you would like to share with readers of Hectic Gourmet?

Allie: Try new things as much as you can, just because you hated something growing up doesn’t mean you’ll hate it now. Live every day like it’s your last and don’t please everyone else, do what makes you happy. Don’t leave the kids out of the kitchen, it’s a great learning experience and they need to know how to cook if you ever want them to move out of the house!