For many years, cooking was a challenge for me, but not one I shied away from. I really loved doing it, the whole process, no matter how my dishes turned out. Successes were celebrated by repeat performances, and failures became accepted challenges. When I think about how far I’ve come since I started cooking full meals, it really feels like 20-something years of trying and a few humble years of beginner's mastery, which was the time I really felt like I started to have a handle on this cooking thing! Yes, that is many, many years of trying. Years of mistakes and lessons learned. Trials and errors that led to better tasting final products. Eventually, my path took me through culinary school, which rounded out and elevated my skills, among other things.
After finishing culinary school, I began working at a French bistro and creperie, continuing to learn and sharpen my skills. Blogging has been in the back of my mind for years as I have always wanted to share what I learn and love. This is a perfect way to do that!
I named my blog The Measured Scoop because measurements in cooking represent a part of the art that I find very crucial. Things like understanding how to measure your ingredients, which ingredients you can be easy with, and which ingredients you should be as accurate as possible. I find these all to be fundamental in producing successful, delicious dishes.
My cooking philosophies:
- Always do the recipe as written the first time. This is how we learn.
- There's more than one way to "do it correctly." And anyone who says differently hasn't been in the game long enough.
- Clean while you cook. Your future self will thank you.
- Be open to trying new things. This is how we grow. (I love the phrase: It sounds so crazy; it just might work!)
- The best flavor comes from putting the love in the details. Giving extra attention to the small parts of each recipe always leads to a better tasting meal.
I hope some of these resonate with you, and you'll see them in the recipes I write and share. I believe everyone has the ability to make a meal they are proud of.