My name is Kate, im 25 and im a stay at home mother to a lovely 3yr old daughter.

I have so many interests but my main motivations are anything to do with creativity/cooking/crafts/art/ and I love fashion, make up and PHOTOGRAPHY! I’ve found that through my blog I’ve finally found something that has been able to incorperate all of those things!

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 just became a daring baker a couple of days ago and I’m beyond excited and raring to go with my first challenge! I feel it gives me something to focus on and to be a part of something that’s not just me in the kitchen feeding it to my family, lol! This way I get to share what I’ve made along with a bunch of like minded people that have made the same thing! It feels like a special club.

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

My favourite kitchen gadget is really boring…it’s a timer! Lol. I time everything. My favourite appliance is a blender.

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

Within my family I was known for making a cheese and potato pie topped with cherry tomatoes. But this was out of cooking class when I was about 11-my mum has gone on about it ever since!! She asks me to make it all the time!

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

I would really love to have a try at making a cake for a special occasion and decorating it. It looks like such intricate work, but the end results can be jaw dropping…if done right!

Do you have a favorite movie? Book? Genre of music? Actor? Actress?

My favourite author is Sarah Addison Allen. Within her books she mixes magic, amazing characters and of course FOOD! My favourite book that ive read recently was a book by Barbara O’neal-that also was about food, lol.

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

This first answer will sound sappy, BUT, id spend some of it on gifts for my family. For me though, it would have to be driving lessons. I’ve been stopping and starting them for years now and I really want a car and some independence!!

What is the ultimate comfort food to you?

I really love chocolate. That’s a comfort everyday in itself! But for a meal, id have to say a simple pasta sauce with meat and spaghetti…my Italian step father makes the best!

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

I love spring for its fresh feel and everything seems clean and new. BUT, I really love fall. There is something about the season that makes me feel excited and full of anticipation and the colours are amazing. Also I love the fashion choices you can make in fall too! Maybe its because I was born around that time…idk.

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

All of the ones above in the first question. Although I really do love swimming. I love swimming my laps, its so relaxing and I feel so strong after I get out of the pool. It’s a good feeling.

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

I’ve been blogging since the beginning of the year jan 2010. I do really like it, I feel its given me a purpose and a focus that before now I thought id lost. Its also opened up my once closed box of creativity.

My favourite post,well, I have two! My first is this http://morellocherry-frostedrosepetals.blogspot.com/2010/04/little-cocon... Everything just cake together so well for that one. They tasted amazing and my harshest critic (my grandad), loved them and he was so surprised that they were wheat free! My second was this http://morellocherry-frostedrosepetals.blogspot.com/2010/05/foodbuzz-top... . It was when I posted about two of my posts had been picked for the Foodbuzz top 9, twice at the same time. I was so pleased. It made my week because I felt like people actually liked my pictures and my posts!

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

My favourite cookbooks for both are Jo Pratt’s In the mood for Food and In the mood for entertaining.

Is there one food that you seriously dislike/hate? If so, which is it and why?

I can’t stand a few actually! The main one is blackpudding…clotted blood? Ew, no! I have a serious dislike for basil and cilantro. At one point I actually liked them though, so I don’t know where the distaste came from!!

What’s your favorite flower and/or plant?

It used to be tulip but its changed and now I love Peonies and Hydrangeas .

Do you have a favorite local restaurant? If so, why is it your favorite and what kind of food is served there?

I don’t have a favourite place to eat but wherever I go I always want to try out the steak and I always want to try something new, so I always try and talk someone into having something I might want to try and then I pick of their plate!! Annoying, I know…my mum wont eat out with me for this reason!

Who taught you how to cook and/or bake?

I watched my grandma when I was little, and I grew up watching cooking tv and magazines and just trail and error.

What’s your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas. Do I have to say why!? It’s just very family orientated and I love that.

Reading any good books lately? Which ones?!

I’ve just started the new book from Sarah Addison Allen. The Girl who Chased the moon.

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

I love to cuddle with my fiance and either go out to eat or get some take out and a movie. AHH, the ultimate relaxation!

Where is your favorite vacation (holiday) destination?

Anywhere where I can relax and I don’t have to do a thing..oh and where there is a spa and treatments, and sunshine! We cant forget sunshine.

What is your favorite cooking/food related magazine? Why?

I really like Florida Table and BBC Good Food magazine. It always has something I’d like to make.

Do you have a food addiction?

I really love fries. I really love anything chocolate. Right now I love raspberry and chocolate together

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

It was my fiance’s dad’s birthday so we went to their house for food. It was chicken with rice and peas and then a huge slice of chocolate cake!

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Watching trashy reality TV!

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

I used to like pastels but at the moment im going through a bright earth tone phase!

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

I’d pick kitchen and I know exactly what I d want! It would be a huge sun lit kitchen made exactly how I want and it would have an island in the middle of it with a mini tv somewhere and a stool at the island. I always want to sit at some point during the process of something im making and I always have my laptop with me watching some old film as im cooking.

The Martha – Angel of Domestication or Minion of Evil? Why?

Don’t know much about her. Not really a fan

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

I’ve not watched many of those but the one I did watch was Hell’s Kitchen.

What’s your favorite “sweet” spice? How about your favorite “savory” spice?

Aside from chocolate. I’d say it is Cinnamon and my favourite spice is curry or pepper

If you could eat in any celebrity chef’s restaurant which restaurant would it be, and which chef owns it?

Jamie Oliver or Nigella Lawson

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

I do love a fresh herb but I tend to cook mostly with dried. My favourite is parsley

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

http://morellocherry-frostedrosepetals.blogspot.com/2010/04/little-cocon...

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

Hmmm, crush the garlic with a knife before you peel it. It will peel easier

You can visit Kate on her blog Frosted Rosepetals