Creative Woman of the Pond: Pam from For the Love of Cooking
Invisible Friends, have I got a treat for you today. The fabulous Pam from For the Love of Cooking is our featured Creative Woman of the Pond today!
Pam is a long time blogging buddy of mine. She’s sweet, kind and a wonderful cook. Looking at pictures of her meals, particularly her Mexican meals, will make you drool into your keyboard.
Trust me. I know.
Let’s learn more about her, shall we?
How did you get started blogging?
I had been doing a family blog, documenting my children’s lives, for a long time and I really enjoyed it. I was sick of my recipes being unorganized in a drawer so I thought I would start a recipe blog to organize my recipes. I also wanted my kids to have all of my recipes written down, so when they are older with families of their own, they could make their favorite recipes from their childhood. In regards to the name, For the Love of Cooking, I woke up one morning with it in my head and it stuck.
What does being creative mean to you?
Using my imagination, whether it’s playing with my kids, photographing, cooking or doing art projects.
Why do you think it’s important for women to balance creativity in their daily lives?
When I became a stay at home Mom, I eventually felt a little lost. I was a mom, wife, cook, driver – I was doing everything for everyone else but not for myself. Doing my blogs, photography and cooking gave me a creative outlet just for me. It has been so wonderful and fulfilling. I think I am a better mother and wife because of it. I feel it’s really important for women to express themselves and do something that makes them happy every single day – it makes us better people.
What kind of creative things do you do every day?
Art projects with my kids, cooking, photography (kids and food), playing games.
Tell me about your family.
I have a funny, kind, patient and loving husband who I’ve been married to for nearly 8 years. We have a daughter, who is 6 – she’s kind, sensitive, smart and very empathetic to all people and animals. I have a 3-year-old son who is silly, funny, feisty and he loves his mom.
Favorite food?
MEXICAN!
Favorite song?
“Trouble” by Cat Stevens. It’s gotten me through a lot of hard times.
Do you like to dance?
Yes, but I don’t do it often enough.
If you could take a trip with anyone and go anywhere, where would you go and who would you take?
Backpack our way through Europe with my husband and our two kids. It will happen someday. I would also love to go on a working vacation in Africa with my kids and husband. I have a friend who runs an orphanage in Tanzania. I’d like to go help with the school and garden – I think it would be a wonderful experience for all of us.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever been given?
My kids!
What’s your ideal pet?
Cat
I disagree with her previous answer…
There’s an enormous present waiting on the kitchen table for you. What’s in it?
A new stove.
How did you get started cooking?
I was a horrible cook until I became a stay at home mom. I would start planning and prepping food while my daughter napped and then I just got better and more confident over time.
What’s your favorite things to cook?
Mexican food and anything low and slow.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever made?
Prime rib last year for Christmas. It was simple and easy but absolutely-melt in your mouth-delicious.
How do you hope to expand your knowledge, culinary wise?
Just getting more confident and trying new things. I really want to try more Thai cooking.
What do you want to achieve with your blog?
Becoming a better cook, making great blogger friends, organizing my recipes and having something for my kids to use when they are older.
What do you hope people get from your blog?
Simple, healthy and delicious recipes that aren’t intimidating.
How do you make so many tasty things?
I LOVE food. I love to entertain my friends and I like to try new things.
Can I move in? And eat all your Mexican food?
I’ve made a spot just for you, Ben, Bitty and Bear. 
You are welcome anytime!
If someone asked you for a no-fail recipe, what would you give them?
Carne Asada – it’s our favorite recipe.
What’s the best cooking tip you ever got?
To let meat rest at least 5 minutes before slicing it to retain it’s juice.
To learn more about Pam, visit her at For the Love of Cooking.
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! The Blond Duck is heading to the beach today, and will be gone all week. But so you don’t suffer a whimsy-less week, I’ve got something special for you! Check it out Monday!
July 18th, 2009 at 2:40 am
Neat idea! Great interview and photos too. And I love that Cat Stevens song.
July 18th, 2009 at 5:31 am
I wish I loved to cook…all her dishes look yummy!
July 18th, 2009 at 5:44 am
Pam is in my top-bloggers list, she is awesome!
July 18th, 2009 at 5:47 am
I’m a huge fan of Pam’s blog. It was fun to learn more about her. Thanks!
July 18th, 2009 at 8:40 am
This was a wonderful interview. It’s nice to see what happens when two very talented young women get together.
July 18th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Mexican food is my favorite, and it is one of the few ethnic foods not done well in Hawaii. Looks like I need to do some cooking cause this post made me hungry.
July 18th, 2009 at 9:06 am
LOVE mexican food – I will go visit her!!
July 18th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Oh Duckie… thanks for featuring me. My kids think I am famous now.
July 18th, 2009 at 10:32 am
I love when you feature bloggers. It’s great because I get to “meet” new bloggers and see new sites I might have otherwise missed. Great post:)
July 18th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Pam’s food looks delicious, loving the latest episodes of the gift and twirl. I’m almost finished stitching then blogging will be back on the agenda again. Jane x
July 18th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I love cooking as well, Mexican is my favorite. Thanks for sharing the interview and pics. I totally want some carne asada and rice now. Oh and don’t forget the PB cookies for dessert. Oops, never mind, I already ate those for breakfast.
Happy Saturday Sharefest.
July 18th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I know Pam, too. Isn’t she wonderful?
July 18th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
OMG all those food pictures just made my stomach growl. They all look amazing. Only I’d remove the olives because I think they taste like feet.
July 18th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Great interview, and the food looks great, too! I’m going over there right now to rip off some of her recipes!
July 18th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Pam has a wonderful blog with recipes, I have been following her blog
July 18th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Great post!
July 18th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
What a great interview! I just love Pam and her cooking…her Mexican food is awesome, isn’t it? Hope you’re all keeping cool!!
Have a great weekend!!
xoxo
Michelle
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Yum! All that food looks amazing!
July 18th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Reading about Pam just made me all hungry
I’ve think I’ve made some of her stuff before…awesome!
July 19th, 2009 at 3:45 am
ooh yummy…
i love your blog…
July 19th, 2009 at 3:46 am
I love learning all about other bloggers – thanks again Duckie.
July 19th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Isn’t she sweet… she has been my virtual friend as well, although this is my first time to see her photo with her family. Glad to see her here with her family.
July 19th, 2009 at 10:08 am
What a nice family! And all those dishes are so appetizing! I see spaghetti with meat sauce too!!!
July 19th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I love Pam’s cooking…all those wonderful Mexican dishes are my fave!
July 19th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
i love pam! she always has delicious food! sorry i’ve been so MIA – the weather has just been too nice for me to blog!
have fun at the beach!! have a margarita for me
July 19th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
oOh that Chinese plate looks so good.
July 19th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
one word….. YUMMY!!!
July 19th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Wow, what a talented lady! I can relate as I, too, learned how to cook on my own and honed the skill after I got married then when I became a SAHM. Those foods you featured are wow!
July 20th, 2009 at 1:25 am
What an excellent interview!!! I love her foodblog too!!! Now, we lnow a lot more about Pam,…So, Thanks Duckie!!
July 20th, 2009 at 2:40 am
Lol at ‘I disagree with her previous answer’!
This food looks amazing!
July 20th, 2009 at 4:28 am
I’m envious, the most advanced Mexican cooking I do is quesadillas!
July 20th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I’m a big fan of Pam’s blog and have made many of her dishes. Thanks for the interview. Good to know she started out the same way I am…just trying new things.
~ingrid
July 29th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Oooh…
Yummy!
I’m bookmarking Pam!!