Hey! I'm a 26yr old daydreamer, living in Leeds in the UK, a full time scientist in the pharmaceutical industry...

...and obsessed with hosting dinner parties. I love planning fancy dress parties and decorating for them even more so. I've got a BSc in Biochemistry, an MSc in Toxicology, currently studying for a BSc in Computer Science & Design and teaching myself Food Science on the side. I love to learn! I'm fascinated by nature, animation & beer....

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

About 12 hours! I love the fact that even though there's a set challenge each month there's still such a huge variety of things made. People can be very imaginative with food and it can be seen in all of the excellent food photographs.

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

Favourite gadget? You can't beat a whisk. Ha. Oh dear. As for favourite kitchen appliance I'd be lost without my kettle and the ability to have hot water in an instant. How else would I defrost my car in December??

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

I've had a few dinner parties recently and I've always ended up making the same cheesecake - raspberry, blueberry & lime. Not out of laziness but because it's been requested so often. I think it's getting boring now but it's so easy to make and tastes A-mazing. I'll put it on my blog sometime soon. Five spice duck breasts always go down well too.

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

I don't know yet! I've only been here 12 hours! But I would quite like to have a go at tempering chocolate. I saw the macaron challenge and had a go at that – what a disaster. I'd quite like to nail that one at some point. I'm a Scout leader and do a lot of Backwoods cooking. Maybe everyone should try that...

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

I love all Pixar films, Asian cinema and anything with Johnny Depp in it. My favourite book is probably either (Harry Potter!) 1984 or Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. One of my favourite films is 24 Hour Party People which also sums up my music taste.

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

As much stuff as possible that I could buy from Paperchase or Lakeland. Stationary & Kitchen gadgets for the win! We've just bought a house actually so I'd love to buy loads of paint & random crap and make something decorative from it for the walls.

What is the ultimate comfort food to you?

Cheese. Cheese. And cheese. I get home from work and eat blocks of it straight from the fridge every night. And then there's pie. My cholesterol...

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

Winter. I ♥ SNOW!

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

I go to as many music festivals in a year as I can fit in. Glastonbury being my favourite – so much cheap yummy food to be had there. I love camping in general and I'm a Scout leader so it I do enjoy/endure my fair share of it. I love making things out of nothing, art and playing with my three chinchillas. I love all sports except athletics and especially Football, Boxing & Basketball. I try to climb as many trees as possible.

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

Since 1st January 2010. I like it but I had such a dilemma with my first post. What do I blog about, who do I am it at, do I care if it's only me that reads it, how much about myself do I reveal, how much should I voice my own opinions etc etc My gingerbread house post is my favourite...especially as I joined the Daring Kitchen after I'd made it and then realised it was the December challenge.

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

I really like Mary Berry's Ultimate Cake Book, I like all cookbooks. Argh. Impossible question to answer.

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

Baked Beans. I don't know why. I like them if it's the variation with the little sausages in with the beans because they taste different. Otherwise. No. Just no. And don't even think of letting that bean juice touch anything else on my plate.

What’s your favorite flower and/or plant?

I love gerbera's, snowdrops, primulas and any plant you can eat.

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

You can't beat well cooked British food in a pub. We're lucky to have so many country pubs around where we live. Mushroom & Stilton Pepperpot with Crusty Bread & Butter. Mmmmm.

Who taught you how to cook and/or bake?

I learnt mostly off my grandma during the school holidays. I took home economics at school which helped and now I learn from books, mags and the food channel on TV (my other half hates that channel so much)

What’s your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas!!! Food, presents, food, sparkle, food, family, food!

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

Baking of course!

Where is your favorite vacation (holiday) destination?

We've just come back from a trip to Hong Kong, New Zealand and the US. I can't explain in words how good it was but I can't wait to go back. New Zealand was beautiful.

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

Good Food. Can't beat the BBC. Addicted to the Cake Wrecks blog as well.

Do you have a food addiction?

Did I mention cheese already? Ohhh sandwiches too. Everything is good between two slices of bread.

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

Roast chicken breast in a creamy peppercorn sauce with a baked potato and Chantenay carrots. Bit dull but I did make it myself. I hate frozen-ready-things. Apart from puff pastry.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Brie, Cheddar, Lancashire, Stilton, Red Leicester, Babybel, Camembert, Dairylea, Philedelphia, Double Gloucester, Feta, Gouda, Gorgonzola, Mozzarella, Gruyère, Wensleydale...

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

Brights!

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

Kitchen! Because they cost so damn much!

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

Pass

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

Hell's Kitchen, Masterchef, The F Word, Ready Steady Cook, The Great British Menu – can't beat Masterchef but Come Dine With Me is addictive...

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

Cinnamon/Ginger and Pepper – we'd be lost without them

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

Heston Blumenthal's famous Fat Duck restaurant has always intrigued but, even if it is cliched, I'd quite like to go down to Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London

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

I have one that I hate and that's Tarragon. Can't stand it. Much prefer using fresh herbs and growing my own but I always have a good stock of dried ones.

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

Not as yet but if you want to check out my epic fail macarons then feel free....http://cherrysnowflake.blogspot.com/2010/01/macaron-hell.html

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

Buy a dishwasher.

You can visit Victoria on her blog Cherries & Snowflakes