The theme of Jessica Maher’s food blog is “fearless in the kitchen.” That’s why I never miss a new post that she writes. There is always something intriguing, delicious or mind blowing coming out of this woman’s kitchen. Her blog is Kitchen Bellicious and I urge you to visit and get to know Jessica. You’ll be glad you did.
When I asked her how she got bit by the cooking love bug, it started back when she was in college. She’d go to the bookstores with a notebook and pen and copy down recipes or look up cooking methods and then dash home and cook. You might think she was a nerd back then but I promise you, she’s no nerd. I suspect she’s a wild and crazy woman during fun time. Like all food lovers, cooking and recipe creation ARE what we love to do.
Once college was over and her married life had begun in their first home, nothing made her happier than cooking for her new husband, family and friends. When they asked how she made each dish she either said, “Uhhh, I don’t know, I just tossed things together and it worked.” (I believe this is where fearless in the kitchen was born!)
After being asked over and over for recipes, the idea of writing down how she made things and creating a blog to share with her friends seemed like the way to go. I’m so glad she did. I’ve learned a lot from her blog. I have learned that I need to make my own crackers. I look at her recipe for Whole Grain Cheese Crackers with Sea Salt and I get all weak in the knees. Then there are her Dill Soda Crackers that make me want to be a cracker maker.
Like all of us, she has made a few oopses in the kitchen. If I make a recipe and it’s a flop, I’ll make it again and tweak it to how I think it would work better. If that is a #fail, then I move on to something else. Jessica has been known to make something five times just to get one recipe right. What do folks say about perseverence? She’s got it in spades.
Jessica is a true foodie at heart. She thinks about food from morning til night and if you present her with a dish and don’t give her the recipe, she’ll get in her kitchen and work at it until she can recreate it. That’s true passion for food.
I asked her why she makes a recipe over and over, tweaking it just the tiniest bit. She asked me if I’d ever tried her chocolate chip cookies! Okay, ’nuff said. I get the point. She loves seeing smiles on the faces of her family and her friends. Jessica has a gorgeous smile but she’ll admit that she’s a bit shy when meeting new people. Food breaks the ice for her, either creating things for people to eat or just talking about food.
When American kids grow up, potatoes are one of the first vegetables we learned to eat. Until recently, Jessica didn’t like mashed potatoes and didn’t eat them fried or stuffed til she was a teenager. Now that’s fussy. 🙂
Strolling through Kitchen Belleicious and seeing all the wonderful food, I think about how difficult it must be with a home to look after, a husband to care for and a 2 year old and a 9 week old infant to look after and nurture. I work and do my blog and I’m exhausted.
For her blog inspiration she looks to Ree Drummond at thepioneerwoman.com before looking at Giada or Ina. Why? Because Ree started with nothing but her love of food and cooking and turned it into the biggest blog and a career. I have to agree with her on this one. Ree is definitely amazing and down-to-earth real.
When asked what part of her blog she likes best, she’s quick to admit that it’s definitely NOT the photography because she doesn’t feel she’s mastered the art of food photography yet. I can so relate to that. One of these days we’ll both have to take a course in photographing food. The cooking is what she enjoys most.
If I could just have someone video me the whole time where I didn’t have to write or take pictures that would be great! Any Takers?
I would if I got to eat it when she was finished. Maybe we could draw straws?
She waxed romantic when I asked where she’d go to eat anywhere in the world if she could. It’s to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to a small Italian restaurant where she and her husband had their first date. All together now.. Awwwww. Not only that.. it was on Valentines Day. My eyes are welling up.
The best enchilada you could ever eat comes from Jessica’s kitchen. If you don’t believe me, ask her. She’ll tell you that her Green Chicken Chile Enchiladas are known all around town and it’s t he recipe she’s most proud of. She mised together different flavors and spices with green chiles (one of her favorites) and lo and behold, the best enchilada ever.
Jessica would be most at home having dinner with her heros Bobby Flay, Michael Simon and Tom Colicchio. I can see her batting her eyelashes at these three giants. Not to flirt with them but to get their recipes!
Her cuisine or culinary style she would most like to be known for is, well, you probably guessed it — fearless. “I wish to be known for my fearlessness in the kitchen. Not caring whether I know how to do a recipe or if I have the ingredients but just doing it and improvising along the way. I think of recipes as a blueprint. That is my motto!”
Take away Jessica’s spice drawer she’d grab paprika, garlic powder and papper before you got out the door and when you checked the rest, the Cajun seasoning would be gone too. She doesn’t want to cook without these. I’m not sure which of them would go into her quick, easy and delicious go-to meal of lasagna rolls but they are her favorite to cook. “If you have lasagna sheets then you can make lasagna rolls. Just use whatever ingredients you have on hand as long as you’ve got ricotta, you’re good to go!”
A new food writer could take good advice from Jessica when she advises a new food blogger to take your time. She said when she first began her blog, she’d cook really fast and take one shot at the end for her blog. She only wishes she could start over and take her time and photograph each step of her recipes. “Take LOTS of photos – good ones too. I get embarrassed when I see my pictures from the start.” I think every food blogger can relate to that feeling. I certainly can.
She’s also a clean as she goes cook. She can’t go from one step to the next without cleaning up and putting away. “I’m really OCD about it to the point where my family makes fun of me.” I need to be more OCD, obviously.
I asked her how she sees food writing on the net evolving and she said when she started blogging everyone was making easy classic dishes and now heaps of people are doing crazy things with crazy ingredients and she loves it. She loves the variety she can find by visiting other blogs. It gives cooks of all ages and levels the inspiration to try new things. “My favorite new trend is the different blog hops – the ones where you get a secret ingredient to use in a dish. It makes you step out of the box and gives you a challenge. I love a challenge.”
You can follow Jessica’s blog at kitchenbelleicious.com, on Pinterest, on Facebook and Twitter
Many of you know that my focus is about food memories and how they last a lifetime. Sometimes a meal or even an aroma can trigger the best memories. Jessica’s best food memory is another “awwww” moment because the recipe she has the best emotions from is Bananas Foster. She had it on her first date with the man she now proudly calls husband. Jessica told me that he was amazing company but she likes to joke and say that the bananas foster was the highlight of the night. “Seriously, it was amazing!” This is her recreation of the classic dessert – Banana Foster Bars. She says they are out of this world and now her little boy is in love with them. It’s cute that a dessert that brought his parents together is one that he loves. Okay maybe the dessert didn’t bring them together but it must have urged a second date!
- 1 stick of butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 1 tsp rum extract
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup flour
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 very ripe bananas
- 2 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 4 TBSP butter
- In a large bowl mix together the butter and sugar and add the egg and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
- Pour all but ¼ of the batter evenly into a greased 9 inch square pan. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
- Set aside to cool.
- Meanwhile let’s make the banana layer for the bars.
- Over low heat, melt butter, sugar and cinnamon stirring until almost dissolved.
- Add in the bananas and sauté for another 3-5 minutes until all the sugar has been dissolved.
- Mash the bananas with a potato masher and spread evenly over the cooled cookie bars.
- Top with the remaining dough by crumbling it over the banana filling.
- Bake at 350F for an additional 10 minutes until the top is nice and slightly golden brown.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 day before cutting into 2 inch squares.
Maureen! You are what we like to call in the South a true gem! This spotlight was amazing, so well written and I can’t thank you enough. To be featured by a food blogger like yourself is truly an honor! Thank you!
Great interview Maureen! I must check out Jessica’s site now. Those bananas fosters bars look delicious and we have so many bananas at the moment too!
Those chicken enchiladas are really good, everything, picture to taste… I want one! Wonderful writing interesting to read. I am heading over to Jessica’s blog now… Thank you, Maureen!
Awesome interview and all of the food looks great!
Boy I step away for a few and you have all kinds of cool changes and a great new guest too. I love those banana bars. I have to admit, I find the photos much harder than cooking. Hope you are having a great week.
-Gina-
OMG, I love Jessica’s blog! Her recipes are great, and her corresponding stories are funny and poignant! Great choice.
I also never miss her post. She taught me so many new recipes, including food in the South. She is one of food bloggers who can cook anything and everything looks delicious. It’s so funny how she talked about her food photography because I really love her pictures. She takes the food in most delicious way. So happy that you had interview with her. She’s my favorite blogger! Maureen, I always enjoy your writing! Great interview!
What a great interview and recipe! I am constantly learning of great new blogs. Thank you.
What a great profile of a wonderful blogger!
Oh yay! I LOVE Jessica’s blog! She’s such a doll. And these bananas foster bars…where can I sign up to have her send me a batch?
Oh wow. So impressive. All the pictures look fabulous! Also, on the potato bit, I never liked potatoes until I moved to North America! My staple was rice rice rice.. hahaha… But now I know about the wonders potato can do! *Shepherd’s pie…* mmmm..
Outstanding spotlight! I’ve never been to Jessica’s blog but after looking at these pictures and this FANTASTIC banana fosters recipe, I think we might become good friends.
DROOOOOOOOOOOOL…….
I love Jessica’s blog. She is an excellent cook and photographer. Enjoyed reading this interview.
thanks for introducing me to another great blogger on my way to visit her blog and wow what a great tart
What a wonderful introduction to a delicious recipe genius 😀
These banana forster cookie bars are heavenly – I will be sure to visit her more often!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks for introducing me to Jessica and her blog. This was an enjoyable read and there is some excellent items that were showcased from her blog. Thanks for having her!
Great profile of a great blogger! I’m not a great photographer either, but I might just volunteer to take some snaps for her in exchange for some of that yummy food!
Maureen, your interviews are so warm and friendly, I feel like I just sat down and visited with you and your interviewees in person (over some fabulous food!) Very enjoyable to get to know Jessica. By the way, your website remodel is amazing. REALLY looks nice!
I didnt know jessica till now. thanks Maureen for introducing her to us, I ll jump over to check her page. Love it too that everyone is starting to experiment with new ingredients! XD I am tempted by the banana bar picture, looks yumm.
Thanks Maureen, for introducing Jessica, have to go and check her blog! Have a nice weekend 🙂
Oh yum! I love the banana bars 🙂 Great idea!
Too funny, I was just checking out her muffaletta, wow not even sure I spelled that right. And I still need to make that tart. Great pick and great post.
Great interview, I love her photos! The banana bars look yummy!
Great interview Jessica! And now I have three more recipes that I’m dying to try. I think I need to start eating 5 meas a day, just so I can make everything that I have on my to-try list. 😉
Allison, I have said the same thing. I looke at food bloggers who make elaborate dishes nearly every day of the week. I can’t imagine where all the food goes. There are just two of us and I can’t afford to cook heaps to give away or toss away. I keep thinking I must be doing it wrong. 🙂
Thanks for introducing me to yet another terrific blog! I really enjoy your interviews – they’re really valuable. And photos! I have to go back and reshoot my early photos some day – they’re awful. And the tip to take lots of photos i great. I used to take at most a dozen shots, and thought that was a lot. Now I’m taking well over 100 shots for each post. Anyway, another wonderful interview. Thank you.
You are SO sweet for leaving this comment. 100 shots for each post? I’d better get cracking. My food styling is pretty crap (non-existent). I’m taking a photography course on the 21st so hopefully I’ll learn how to use my camera more effectively. The course is all about camera settings and lighting. Now if I could find a food stylist around here to give personal lessons. 🙂
Kudos to you for interviewing with Jessica. I have long been a fan of her blog. Her recipes are all made with the expertise of a professional. She introduces us to new dishes that look so delicious and attractive that I am excited at what I will perceive each time I visit her blog!! Congratulations Jessica you are such an inspiration for all of us.
Visiting from Jessica’s blog…
Kitchen Belleicious is one of my favorites! Glad to know more about Jessica through your interview…and happy to find your wonderful site through her!
Hi Tina and welcome! I’ve visited your blog a few times and it’s a really good one!
Great choice, I follow her posts. She has unique recipes
Oh, what a MARVELOUS interview! I love Jessica’s blog, too, and it’s wonderful to learn more about her! Thank you…and now I’m off to get her enchilada recipe!
What a great feature! I love Jessica and her blog, and I’ve gotten so many amazing recipes and ideas from her!
So nice to meet you, Shea, and I agree with you about the amazing recipes Jessica comes up with!
hi , came over from jessica’s blog. I’m glad that i come by to know you and a little bit more about jessica. You’re so right, she’s fearless in the kitchen, she just grab anything from the kitchen, make it her own way, created her recipe and they are look amazing to me. There are always fresh ideas, i just admire her capability of doing it. Actually there’s something funny now that you mentioned spices, when i see cajun, i actually thought of jessica..i seldom use cajun not until i came upon jessica’s blog. Now there’s a bottle of cajun seasoning in my kitchen. I agree if there’s someone who will do the photography and write for us, the better. English is not my mother tongue, sometimes writing is not that easy for me, the flow doesnt come that easily. Anyway, great article and enjoy reading it , thanks!
Hi Lena and welcome to Orgasmic Chef. If you hadn’t told us that English wasn’t your first language I would never have known. I like the way Jessica uses all recipes as a starting off point for something different. She had to start by making all the classics by following the recipe. Once she had all the methods and ingredients down, she was ready to experiment and that she does so well.
Oh I have been a followers of Jessica’s blog for over a year now. I look forward to every new post because her recipes are amazing! I found your blog through hers. Glad I did.
Hi Alicia and welcome! I’m so glad to meet you and I’m off to visit your blog.
What a spot on interview! Jess, is my sister-in-law and good friend! You not only captured her love of food and family but the essence of her sweet spirit! I love trying her recipes…especially these sweet ones! 😉
Carey, aren’t you a fantastic sister-in-law! I’m not sure my sister-in-law would say such nice things about me! LOL
I really don’t know how I miss this one…
I love Jessica… She is such a loving and kind soul. And to top it all she is so talented…
Lovely!!!
Thanks Maureen…. Once again my dear.