Today, Invisible Friends, you’re in for a treat!  Today’s creative woman of the Pond is none other than Natashya, from Living in the Kitchen With Puppies!

 

 

 

 

Puppies.  Food.  Fresh baked bread from scratch.  Pasta.  Pizza.  Puppies.

 

 

 

 

Did I mention puppies?

 

 

Let’s meet her, shall we?

 

How did you get started blogging?  How did you come up with your title/ name?

I started blogging last May, after winning a cookbook in an online cooking challenge. That gave me the courage to start my own blog. It was pretty terrible in the beginning though, but we all have to start somewhere! My title came from my life. It is what I do! I spend most of my time in the kitchen, pups in tow.

What does being creative mean to you?

Being creative means being in tune with yourself, listening to your own wants and needs and rhythms as you make.. dinner, dessert, the bed.. whatever you are doing at the time.

Why do you think it’s important for women to balance creativity in their daily lives?

Without creativity we are stagnant. The word inspiration comes from the word for breathing, inspire. This is not a coincidence, just as breath must flow so must creativity. It is what animates us and makes us unique from one another.

 

What kind of creative things do you do every day?

 

I cook, bake, and write. I have sculpted some pieces out of clay that I am rather proud of as well, but most of what I create is in the kitchen.
Tell me about your family.

My children are almost grown. The eldest, my only daughter, is in an arts program in university, the middle is taking an extra year of high school to obtain some extra credits in musical theater, and my youngest (the funniest) is developing an interest in the kitchen. My husband is my best friend and cheerleader and, thankfully, is a strong and dependable man.

 

Favorite food?

BreadIceCreamChickenPastaLemonGarlic.

Favorite song?

 

James Taylor, “Fire and Rain.”

Do you like to dance?

Yes, I dance in the kitchen all the time. My daughter is not happy about that.

If you could take a trip with anyone and go anywhere, where would you go and who would you take?

I would take a Mediterranean cruise with my husband.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever been given?

A puppy!

 

What’s your ideal pet?

A puppy!

 

There’s an enormous present waiting on the kitchen table for you.  What’s in it?

A Wolfe range. Installed, of course.

How did you get started cooking?  Have you always been interested in food?

I started cooking when I first got married, my first husband assumed I could cook so I did. I got better over time but I pretty well started at the beginning, and this was before the Food Network and the Internet!

My palate also developed over time, I have a good understanding now of what I like and how to achieve it in my cooking, and I am also open to expanding my tastes and repertoire.

 

What’s your favorite things to cook?

Summer pastas, I love tossing garden fresh veggies with hot, glistening noodles and fresh herbs. Yum!

 

What’s your favorite recipe to serve to guests?

I like to serve food that I can largely prepare ahead of time. A multi-course Thai dinner would be a favourite, it is not too difficult to make, but impressive to serve. Lasagna rolls made with fresh pasta is a winter time favourite. In the hot summer it would be grilled souvlaki skewers and some great salads.

What do you wish someone would cook for you?

I once had a feast that was prepared by a friend’s Indian grandmother. It had different kinds of pickles that were hand preserved. The meal was one of the most glorious that I have ever had. So many dishes and breads and accompaniments. Truly decadent. I would love to have a meal like that again.

 

What would you make Queen Bitty?

I would make her a lovely little Bitty-sized terrine, with fine meats, mushrooms and herbs.

What do you want to achieve with your blog?

I like the impetus to bake and cook and write on a regular basis that having a food blog gives you. I hope to continue to expand my repertoire and abilities in the kitchen, as well as continue to meet great people with similar interests.

What do you hope people get from your blog?

I hope that people feel at home when they visit, that they get inspired to bake or cook something that caught their eye, and that they want to return.

Photo courtesy of foodnetwork.com

 

 

Who’s your favorite chef? Why?

My favourite cook (I don’t think she is a chef) is Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa). She is confident and beautiful and has such a lovely lifestyle. I love that she creates such wonderful yet down to earth dishes, and that she drops things and spills on her shirt just like I do. I met her when she was in the city signing books two years ago, stood in line for five hours.  It was a wonderful day!

What are your goals with your cooking do you want to open a restaurant, write a cookbook?

Maybe write a cookbook one day. I can’t imagine writing one and blogging at the same time though, I don’t know how other people manage it.

What’s your favorite type of food pasta, breads, Italian, Chinese, Mexican…?  Why?

Goodness, they all sound good to me. I love carbs: pasta and bread are some of my best friends. And Italian… I would love to be Italian when I grow up.

You’ve sat down at a exquisite restaurant that’s the talk of the town.  The waiter brings you a covered silver plate and lifts the lid.  What’s on your plate?

Sushi! I love Japanese food. I would love to try some of the high-end creations.

Does Bella still like Wallace?

Bella hasn’t mentioned Wallace in a while. I think the relationship ran its course. Women can be fickle.

 

Pie or cake?

Pie! Fruit pie to be exact. Peach or apple or berry, mmmm…

What’s the best cooking tip you ever learned or discovered?

Recently the no-salt-with-dried-beans rule has been de-bunked by foodie magazines and Food Network folks. I feel so liberated! My beans now have flavour!

What do you hope to do in the future with your blog?

I really don’t know. I think I will blog for a finite amount of time and then retire. It really does take a lot of time. That being said, I won’t be stopping anytime soon. I am having too much fun!

 

For more information, visit Natashya at her blog!

 

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  Next week we have more whimsical fun coming up tasty treats, fun stories and more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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