90 Meet Real Mom Kitchen & Win Her Cookbook!***CLOSED***

Meet Laura, the blogger behind Real Mom Kitchen!

I have had the pleasure of meeting Laura in person a couple of times and she is one of the most down to earth people I have ever met.  She loves what she is doing and it shows.  I first heard of her in a local newspaper and have been following her blog ever since.

I wanted to get to know her a little bit more and she was more than willing to share her answers to my questions.

Who is the inspiration behind your cooking?

My mom, she is the one who taught me how to cook.

What was the earliest food/dish you learned to make?

If I had to guess, it was probably cookies.

What is the one foot item you refuse to eat, no matter the circumstance?

Candied yams - it is the one thing I just can't handle eating.  I think it's a texture thing for me.

What is your favorite summer dish to make?

Grilled pizza.  My family loves pizza and it is fun to make it on the grill during the summer.  Plus, grilling it adds to the flavor.

If you only had 30 minutes from pantry to table, what would you make?

Hawaiian Haystacks.  It is my family's favorite meal.  I usually just throw the rice into my rice cooker, which is usually done in 30 minutes, but minute rice can get it on the table even faster.  I usually make the sauce with just a can of Cream of Chicken soup and some milk.  If I have any leftover chicken, I'll throw that in, but if not, no big deal.

What staple is your pantry never without?

Pasta.  You can always whip up a quick dinner if you have some pasta on hand.

Which recipe would you recommend from your new cookbook that is simple, easy, and a great addition to bring to a pot luck?

The Chili Cheese Frito Salad - It's simple, easy, and I always get asked for the recipe.



I asked her some questions about blogging ...

What inspired you to start a food blog?

Another food blog, Mels Kitchen Cafe.  Her cooking was similar to mine and I started my blog as a place to keep all my recipes.

What is the best part about blogging?

The new friends that I make.  I have met an made new friendships with really great women from all around the United States.

What is your favorite post and why?  

That's a tough one.  I love posts that I have done about recipes that mean something to me, ones that remind me of my childhood or of a recipe handed down to me from my grandma - like my post for Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas.



Guess what?  She has a cookbook out!   I got a sneak peek of her cookbook and it is put together really well!  There are over 40 full color food photos, which are a must in my opinion ~  This book covers everything from appetizers/sides, to breads, soups/salads, main dishes, and desserts.  She even has a few 30 minute recipes, a plus for any real mom in the kitchen! 

What was the most challenging part of putting together a cookbook?

First would be choosing the recipes.  Then it would be getting all the photos done.

What was the best part of putting together your cookbook?

Seeing the finished product; it was so nice to see the fruit of my labor.  It was a goal of mine for a while and it is so nice to achieve something I had planned on doing.

What do you do when you are not working on your blog?  

When I am not working on my blog, I am usually washing dishes, cleaning my house, or take care of my kids.  I have a special needs daughter who requires a lot of extra help, so that keeps me pretty busy.  I do also like to read and watch television if I can squeeze some time in.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure food?

Eclairs.  I have loved them since I was a little girl.  I love the crisp and chewy pastry along with the rich, creamy filling, finished off with the sweet and chocolately topping!  It was a yummy treat I would get to have occasionally as a child from the ZCMI bakery.  Now I can make my own whenever I am in the mood for them.

Have you ever had any kitchen disasters?

Absolutely.  It usually happens when I have too many things going on in the kitchen at one time.  I usually check on something, thinking it just needs a minute or two longer and don't set my timer.  Then I get focused on something else I have cooking and forget all about the other item that just needed a few more minutes.

Thanks, Laura!  It was great to get to know you a little better ~ She is truly a Real Mom who knows her way around a kitchen ~ Congratulations on your new cookbook!  You can take a peek at her new cookbook and pre-order it on Amazon.com!

Want to get a FREE copy of her cookbook?  Laura is graciously giving one away to one of my lucky readers!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post ~

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Cookbook giveaway is open to all my US readers and will close July 27, 2011 at midnight, MST.  I was given a PDF copy of her book for an honest review, which I can't wait to make recipes from!  The winner will be randomly selected by Random.org and a hard back copy of Laura's book will be sent to the winner from Cedar Fort Publishing.