Hi there! Thanks for stopping by. I’m Holly and this is my piece of real estate on the Internet. I love food! I love everything about it…the beautiful colors, the unique textures and shapes, the miracle of planting a seed and then harvesting the fruit. I love eating it and I love to create deliciousness and share it with friends like you!
This is my guy Bryan. AKA “Sanderino,” “Business,” “B,” “The B Man,” “BS…” we could be here a while. He comes by the nickname “Business” honestly ‘cause he is all about the business. That would be the business of website developer, tech support, accountant, taste tester, dishwasher, fellow gardener and as he likes to say recipient of amazingness. Ok, so that last bit I may say for him, but he agrees.
Not only do I like to create food, I like to create lots of things and I’ve been creating things for a long time. I’ve been an editor and producer of TV shows and commercials, and managing people do the same. I dabbled in PR for a bit and even worked for my church as the Youth Director for over 3 years. That was by far the most fun job I’ve ever had and probably the most challenging and time consuming – but I loved it!
I’ve always found time to develop my skills in the kitchen. Well, except for the stint in youth ministry - that was me developing my skills as a proficient gatherer of Doritos, Mountain Dew and Dominoes Pizza. I know what you’re thinking - don’t judge – this is where I say things like a “girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do” and “when in Rome”… But all those years of eating pizza and Doritos just inspired me even more to get back to what I love... creating food! Can you hear the sound track playing in the background? “I’m a survivor, not gon’ give up…”
Moving on.
My personal philosophy is that food should always taste good, and it’s my mission to show the world that it’s possible, one recipe at a time. I appreciate the challenge of working with new ingredients and cooking a variety of cuisines. I like to think I can look at a recipe and know what needs to change in order for it to be the best it can be. Or if it just shouldn’t “be” at all. I enjoy making mostly healthy dishes, using seasonal, fresh ingredients - especially when they have been grown in my garden. Yes – I have a garden (swoon).
Recently, I’ve developed a new love for gardening. I’m thinking I got that from my mom, she was a master gardener. Not sure that’s a thing but if it were that’s what they would call her. I grew up in Michigan with my parents, my sister and my two brothers. We lived in the suburbs on a chunk of land, which allowed us to have a big garden. Most of my summers were spent hoeing rows, planting seeds, pulling weeds, watering and harvesting. Honestly, at the time it felt like punishment. All my friends were playing TV tag and building forts, and I was spending way too much time in the hot sun deciphering a weed from a corn plant and then eradicating the former. It didn’t stop there – oh no. After the harvest came the canning. My mom canned everything from tomatoes and corn to pickles and beets. Oh, and I must take a moment and mention the lovely, lima beans – my favorite snack as a teenager - with tons of butter and salt, of course. Lima beans rock!! For the record, I’m forecasting lima beans will become the new kale. Or is it chickpeas that are trending now??
Anyway, back to the canning…this was another family activity that we all participated in. I can remember spending long afternoons, elbows deep in lots of watery, red juice, skinning the peels off pounds and pounds of tomatoes. When I look back now I’m so grateful for these opportunities and the memories that go with them. What a gift to spend time as a family, working the land, and producing food that we would eat all year round. Thanks mom and dad I know you’re proudly watching from up above!!
Things that make my heart go “pitter patter” are warm, sunny days at the beach (with the B man of course), cool New England summer nights sitting by a fire pit (again with the B man), time spent with dear friends and family, the beautiful island of Anguilla, our garden, the color turquoise, lemons, cookbooks, and small furry animals including but not limited to chipmunks and kittens.
PS: I would like to add raising chickens to the above list of favorite things but don’t want to be disingenuous. This is something I would like to try, if say, given the opportunity. If everyone could help a girl out and send me all of your amazing stories about how owning chickens has fulfilled you and made your life complete, I would greatly appreciate it. Ole’ Sanderino still needs some convincing. 😉
Foods I'm tasting & seeing a lot of these days: French feta, Burrata, savory Galettes, ground cherries, spicy Sriracha hummus, Sriracha margaritas, okra cakes, jalapeno corn salad, and fried green tomatoes with spicy ranch dip.
Less about me, more about you!
Drop me an email at holly {at} tasteandsee {dot} com, I’d love to hear from you.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin