I’m 26, a PhD student in cultural studies in Australia, have two children, I’m a long time lover...

...of baking, and a newby blogger

How long have you been a Daring Baker/Daring Cook and what’s your favorite thing about being in the group(s) so far?

I joined the Daring Bakers couple of weeks ago, and I’m looking forward to doing my first challenge in Feb.

What’s your favorite kitchen gadget? How about your favorite kitchen appliance?

fav gadget would have to be my digital scales, and fav appliance would HAVE to be my new Kitchenaid mixer I got for Christmas (and yeah…I cried when I opened it lol)

Are you known for making a certain dish or dessert? If so, what is it?

I’m known for lasagna and pumpkin pie (thought not on the same day). Pumpkin pie isn’t really an Aussie dish, but it’s so fantastic I make it all the time and have converted (almost) all of my family and friends!

Is there any recipe and/or technique that we haven’t covered yet that you’d really like to make/learn?

I’d like to know more about cake decorating – but I’m not fussed whether it’s ever included here

You’ve just won $5000.00!!! What would you spend it on?

Right now it’d be bathroom renovation supplies! The nuclear green walls have to go!!

What is the ultimate comfort food to you?

Anything with ‘pudding’ in the title!!!

Which season (Winter, Summer, Spring, Fall) is your favorite.. why?

Always winter. Soups, roasts, warm deserts, coats, jumpers, scarves – love it!!

Other than cooking and/or baking.. what hobbies do you enjoy?

I actually love working on my thesis, I love bike riding and bush walking, camping, and of course just hanging out with the people I love

How long have you been blogging? Do you like it? What’s your favorite post you’ve written?

I’ve been blogging for only a couple of months, and find it harder than I thought! For someone who can’t stop talking, I thought blogging would be easy, but it’s not! I do enjoy it though, and my favorite post is the one about the beer cheesecake to surprise my husband for his birthday.

What’s your favorite cookbook for desserts/baking? What’s your favorite cookbook for savory/cooking?

Favourite for desserts and baking is a new one, ‘Bourke Street Bakery’ by Paul Allam and David McGuinness, and for savoury, I really love anything by Donna Hay or Jaimie Oliver – but usually the savoury stuff is my husbands department!

What’s your favorite flower and/or plant?

Grape vines – they look fantastic and produce bunches of awesomeness.

What’s your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas – for the food of course! And the way that Christmas food brings people together, everyone sits together to eat, there are always too many people in the kitchen, always people around to share left-overs, always baked goods given as gifts, I just love it.

You’ve had a rough week. How do you relax after a rough week?

a long, hot bath, a few cups of tea, hire a feel-good movie, then the next day do something active to take my mind off it all.

Where is your favorite vacation (holiday) destination?

New Zealand or Tasmania.

Do you have a food addiction?

anything sweet…..just can’t say no!

What did you eat for dinner last night? Did you prepare it or someone else?

I ate rabbit stew, cooked by a friend of ours using her mothers traditional family recipe – it was divine.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Ice cream with blueberry topping!

What kind of colors do you like? Pastels? Earth tones? Brights? Neons? Etc.

All about the earthy

If you had the choice of a free kitchen, bathroom, living room or bedroom makeover – which would you choose and why?

Bedroom for sure! Ours is small and has almost no storage – it’s always a disaster zone!

Do you watch any competitive cooking shows? Like Top Chef or Hell’s Kitchen? If so, which is your favorite and why?

I love love love Masterchef! I love seeing everyday foodies in action, it’s great!

What’s your favorite herb to cook or bake with? Do you prefer fresh or dried?

Basil – always fresh.

Is there one recipe on your blog that you would like to share with us? If so, leave the link here.

http://thirddraw.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/manliest-birthday-cake-ever/

Do you have a time saving kitchen tip you’d like to share with us?

yes – dishwasher!

You can visit Emily on her blog The Third Draw