Congratulations to hardlikearmour, whose State Fair Cream Puffs won this week's contest for Your Best Fair Food, earning her big prizes from Viking, OXO and Tiny Prints, and a spot in the next Food52 cookbook!
Q&A with hardlikearmour
Describe an early food experience that has influenced the way you think about food and/or cooking.
Once I thought the taste of the grilled cheese sandwiches would transfer through the side of the electric frying pan my mom was cooking them in so I licked it. In case you're wondering, the taste does not transfer, but the heat sure does!
What's your least favorite food?
Fishy fish. I have not been able to acquire a taste for it.
What is the best thing you've made so far this year?
I've been seriously hooked on beverages this summer. I've made numerous drinking vinegars including Blueberry-Tarragon, Pear, and Mango-Apricot. I also love my Tea Thyme Soda -- it's really refreshing.
Describe your most spectacular kitchen disaster.
I've had the same experience as AntoniaJames. Years ago I somehow thought it would be okay to pour water into a very hot glass baking dish (it was Pyrex after all!) It was obviously not a good idea, which I figured out the instant the water hit the pan and it shattered into a million tiny bits -- seriously at least a million. Luckily the mess was contained in the oven, so it was relatively easy to deal with.
What is your idea of comfort food?
Something cheesy, soft, and warm. A good baked mac & cheese or a bowl of cheesy polenta would do the trick!
Apron or no apron?
I almost always cook without an apron.
What's your favorite food-related scene in a movie?
I really like the scene in The Fantastic Mr. Fox when the Foxes are eating pancakes for breakfast.
If you could make a show-stopping dinner for one person, living or dead, who would it be?
This is the hardest question. I would love to make a fabulous dinner for Temple Grandin. She is a major force in improving the conditions for food animals, and has tremendous insight into animal behavior.
You prefer to cook: a. alone, b. with others, c. it depends on your mood.
I'm definitely a do-it-yourself kinda gal, but have been more willing to accept help in the kitchen over the past year or so.
When it comes to tidying up, you usually: a. clean as you cook, b. do all the dishes once you've finished cooking, c. leave the kitchen a shambles for your spouse/roommate/kids to clean.
I'd love to get pointers on how to clean as you cook. I really lack efficiency!
- Hardlikearmour's amazing cake-decorating skills. Yes, that's a cake!
Written by: hardlikearmour
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