In the 8th grade I tried to make Jello-O. That bowl sat in the fridge for a week before I came to the conclusion that it was never going to move past the liquid phase- it was never going to jiggle.
In high school I tried boil some eggs. I forgot about them, left the house with some friends, and came home to exploded burnt eggs hanging off the ceiling. And I ruined my Mom’s favorite pot.
I thought this whole being in the kitchen and cooking thing wasn’t going to pan out. Now, here I am, a published cookbook author (Quick and Easy Vegetarian Cookbook) and a successful blog!
I find recipe inspiration from my travels. From the smallest rural towns to the biggest urban centers, there is always something for me to learn and discover. My favorite travel activity finding foodie tours and seeking out delicious iconic dishes that cities are known for. I spend a great deal of time in the kitchen trying to recreate these foodie finds when I return home.
Pre-blog life, I was a dancer at Walt Disney World and learned a lot about keeping myself healthy and fit. My claim to fame was as a dancer in the original stage production of Beauty and the Beast at what used to be the Disney MGM Studios (now called Disney’s Hollywood Studios).
After my dancing career ended, I traveled for several years as a Flight Attendant for Delta Airlines, often eating on the go at airports and barely ever stepping into my own home kitchen. I was living on fast food and airplane chicken.
In 2011, I launched Beauty and the Beets as a way to start documenting my food and travel. I found that experimenting in the kitchen was not only fun but also educational in learning about flavors and pairings.
I briefly ventured into the world of food competitions- from competing at the World Food Championships to baking on two live Cupcake Wars events in Salt Lake City, Utah. I stepped waaaaay out of my comfort zone.
Please feel free to contact me under the contact tab with any questions or sponsorship requests. Thank you for stopping by and I look forward to “meeting” you!
