Continued from page 39 the rolls is relaxing, and helps me take my mind off of things. What do you enjoy most about teaching? Seeing someone’s eyes light up when they realize that I’m teaching them something they can do, and they get excited about trying it for themselves. With any recipe, I think it’s important to feel proud of what you’ve accomplished, and if I’m able to help someone reach that point, then I’m happy. What is your favorite dish to eat? I love cheesecake! Once I got into my teens, my birthday cake request became cheesecake, so that’s what my mom would make. What would people be surprised to find in your home kitchen, refrigerator or pantry? My refrigerator is full of condiments. I love trying new barbecue sauces, salad dressings and marinades. I also have a lot of dried spices and herbs. Spice blends and flavored peppers and salts are some of my favorites. What is your best tip for people who want to improve their skills in the kitchen? Knife skills are one of the most important things to have when working in the kitchen. It can speed up your prep time, and make things so much easier. We have lots of cooking
instruction videos on tasteofhome.com, including one on knife skills. What is your best tip for people who want to improve their party-hosting skills? Try to garnish the plate with something that is already in the recipe. Don’t just throw a piece of parsley on there to add color. If your recipe has green onions in it, slice one up and sprinkle it on top. If you’re doing a buffet-style party, try setting things at different heights to make it look better. You can create cake stands by putting a decorative coffee mug under a plate or using a mason jar filled with colorful objects to raise bowls or plates off the table. What is your favorite kitchen gadget or tool? I love my microplane grater for fresh citrus zest, and I use silicone scrapers all of the time because they’re heat resistant. I have some fun new gadgets that I’ll be using at the show in November, and people have seemed pretty excited about them at the shows I’ve done so far. You just got a call from an angel investor who wants to fully fund your dream restaurant. What will it be? I’ve always thought it would be fun to have a little bakery and have space in the back to hold cooking classes for kids and adults. I’d like to serve cupcakes, cookies, muffins and anything else that sounds good that day.
BAKERSFIELD’S ORIGINAL BRIGHTON STORE
www.shopchristines.com
4915 Stockdale Highway • 661-834-3068 Monday - Friday 10-6 • Saturday 10-5
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Bakersfield Life Magazine
November 2013