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Homemade & Yummy is a food blog by Gloria Duggan, that offers readers an extensive range of delicious recipes, cooking tips, and nutritional information. The website features a slideshow of recent posts and categories such as Appetizers, Main Courses, and Desserts.
The blog also provides useful information on cooking tips, nutrition, and meal planning. Gloria Duggan’s passion for food and cooking is evident in her recipes and writing, making Homemade & Yummy a must-read for foodies and home cooks alike.
The article is a Q&A interview with Gloria who shares her love for cooking and food experiences. Gloria does not have a specific type of recipe that they enjoy creating; however, she enjoys incorporating traditional Ukrainian recipes into her blog. She recommends using budget-friendly ingredients, including lentils, legumes, quinoa, rice, and pasta.
She also shares that their favorite kitchen tool is the Dutch oven, which is and perfect for making soups, stews, and casseroles. Gloria also emphasizes that taste is the most important aspect of cooking, and encourages people to experiment with different flavors and to practice their cooking skills.
Read our exclusive interview with Gloria Duggan now!
What follows is an interesting interview with the Cooking influencer.
1. Please tell us a little about yourself and how you got into cooking.
My love for cooking started at a young age. My background is Ukrainian so there were always lots of wonderful foods to enjoy. My mom, baba, and aunts all had huge gardens every summer. In fact, one of my aunts had a fruit orchard. Fresh produce was readily available.
Of course, all the ladies did traditional canning and preserving. Lots of pickles, jams, sauces, and homemade sauerkraut were in the cold room during the winter months, along with frozen fruits and vegetables in the huge freezers.
I was accustomed to homemade bread, pasta, and all kinds of baked goods. Everything is made from scratch.
The holidays were very special. Huge family gatherings meant lots of great food. Traditions are important, even to this day my kids and grandkids always look forward to celebrating with our classic recipes.
Speaking of recipes, that is one of the reasons I started this blog. My mom was terrible at writing down recipes. She would keep handwritten notes in a little book (that I still have) but would not always write down the amounts or the cooking/baking instructions.
My baba was the same. She never had anything written down. Everything was from memory. She made the best pie dough, and I often watched her just use regular tea cups for measuring and it turned out perfect every time.
I wanted my kids and grandkids to have some sort of written recipe so they could at least have some guidance in creating the foods they love.
2. What are your favorite types of recipes to create and share, and why?
I don’t have favorite types of recipes. Of course, our traditional holiday recipes are always a must. One year I was going to change Christmas morning breakfast, and my kids went nuts. Christmas Morning Sandwiches ( https://homemadeandyummy.com/christmas-morning-sandwiches/) is a MUST and they will not agree to anything else.
I think for most people easy recipes are important. Batch cooking is also great. Meals that use budget-friendly ingredients are key these days.
I try to add traditional Ukrainian recipes to the blog. Food memories are great.
3. What is your favorite ingredient to work with and why?
One of my favorite ingredients to work with is quinoa. The perfect meat alternative that is nutritious and budget-friendly. It can be used in so many delicious ways.
4. What is your favorite kitchen tool or gadget and why?
My dutch oven is by far my favourite kitchen essential. You can bake, braise, and use it on the stovetop or in the oven. Great for soups, stews, casseroles and more. The most versatile pot in my kitchen. Second in line would be my slow cooker. The best invention ever!
5. What’s your favorite comfort food recipe to make during the colder months?
During the colder months, anything that fits in a bowl is perfect. Soup, stew, chili, curries. My Dutch oven and slow cooker get a workout during the cold winter season.
6. What is your favorite type of cuisine to cook and why?
We love all kinds of cuisines that is for sure. I love experimenting with flavours of the world. The best part is that you can do it right in your own kitchen. Mexican, Greek, Indian, Asian, Canadian, British, we enjoy them all.
7. How do you manage to balance the flavors and textures in your recipes, particularly when working with gluten-free ingredients?
I think the balance of flavors is a personal preference. Hubby and I like spicy foods. When I am cooking for say my grandkids, I tone it down for sure. You need to experiment to figure out what works right for you. Always remember you add spices slowly. You can always add more, but you can’t take it out.
I don’t find it any more difficult to make gluten-free recipes. There are lots of great ingredients out there for making great-tasting dishes that is for sure.
8. Can you walk us through your cooking process, from selecting ingredients to plating the finished dish?
Preparing a recipe depends on a few things. If I am just cooking for the sake of feeding my family, I will often see what ingredients I have on hand and go from there. I like to make use of leftovers in creative ways. Experimenting with flavors is a fun way to try new things. You might even surprise yourself.
If I am preparing a certain recipe, I first read the ingredients and make a list of things I may need to get. Then I read the directions to make sure I understand the process.
When I do a post for the blog, I try to include process shots. People that don’t cook often find them very useful.
I am a firm believer that taste is key. Plating is great, but if the food tastes terrible it’s not worth the effort. Honestly, unless I am looking to impress dinner guests, I don’t spend much time trying to make my food look pretty.
The more you experiment in the kitchen with flavors, the easier it will be.
9. Can you recommend some budget-friendly ingredients that can be used in a variety of dishes?
Budget-friendly ingredients for sure are lentils, legumes, quinoa, rice, and pasta. Easy to find and easy to work with. Perfect for so many great recipes.
10. What advice would you give to someone who wants to improve their cooking skills?
Improving your cooking skills comes with practice. Don’t be afraid to fail, everyone does. I have had some great epic failure stories over the years. Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, and Curtis Stone have all learned from mistakes in the kitchen. You will too.
11. What equipment do you use for your food photography, and do you have any tips for taking great food photos?
Food photography is an art. That is why cookbooks have professional photographers. Most times those people are not doing the cooking.
I am not a professional photographer. I have a great camera, some lighting, and props like backdrops, dishes, and linens that help me create blog-worthy photos. I did manage to get a couple of recipes in some local magazines, so that was a huge accomplishment for me.
Again just like cooking, it requires practice. You will have good days and bad days with photos too. Some people only shoot in natural light. I shoot in artificial light since it is something I am in total control of.
Some people only use tripods. When purchasing my current camera I made sure it had great image stabilization so I could avoid the tripod setup. I find it much easier and faster just holding the camera.
12. Can you recommend some healthy ingredient swaps that can make classic dishes more nutritious?
I love swapping out ingredients to make a recipe more nutritious. A great example is my Lentil Tourtiere ( https://homemadeandyummy.com/red-lentil-meatless-mock-tourtiere-pie/ )
If you are familiar with traditional French Canadian tourtiere, it is a heavy meat-based dish that doesn’t win points in the nutrition department.
I created a recipe replacing all the meat with lentils. The texture and taste got five stars from tourtiere connoisseurs, and they were very happy to have a healthier version of their traditional favorite.
Anytime you can make a recipe healthier is a winner in my books.
13. What do you hope people take away from your blog, and how do you want to inspire them in the kitchen?
My blog is all about cooking at home. Using what you have on hand. Making tasty and easy meals right in your own kitchen.
Food doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does have to taste good. Experiment and have fun. Create your own traditions. Don’t be scared to try!
Food brings people together. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Some people like to bake, others like to cook. Do what makes you happy. Enjoy your tasty creations.
In conclusion, the interview with Gloria Duggan, a food blogger, provided an insightful glimpse into the world of food blogging. Through her experiences, we were able to gain a better understanding of the hard work and dedication that goes into creating engaging recipes, and tips for a food-loving audience.
Gloria’s passion for food and ability to share her knowledge and expertise in an approachable and relatable way was truly inspiring.
Where you can find me…
Website: https://homemadeandyummy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homemadeandyummy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomemadeandYummy/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/homemadeandyumm/
