Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions I get about my recipes and cooking blog. If you have any other questions or want to get in touch, contact me today!
What is your inspiration for your recipes?
My inspiration comes from a variety of different sources. Whether it’s watching one of my favorite cooking shows, browsing food blogs, or just day dreaming about how to use up the various ingredients in my pantry, inspiration can strike anywhere. My recipe creation process usually includes the following steps:
- Seeing an idea that gets me excited to try something new, or just trying to satisfy a random craving.
- Researching and browsing several similar recipes, reviewing ingredient lists and techniques for inspiration.
- Cooking the dish on my own, not following any particular recipe, jotting down notes in my recipe binder as I go.
What is your cooking style/food philosophy?
While I don’t follow any particular style exactly, I do try to keep most of my recipes on the healthier side. This includes using fresh and healthy ingredients or making substitutions to use healthier ingredients without sacrificing flavor. I try to find opportunities to add in extra fruit or veggies when possible. However, I believe healthy eating should be about balance, so you will also find plenty of recipes packed with meat, carbs, and cheese.
I usually use simple and familiar ingredients, in combinations that pack big flavor. I also love mash ups and combining different foods together, so some of my favorite recipes might include unique twists on traditional recipes – for example, check out my Philly Cheese Steak Pizza or Kale and Shredded Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad.
Why did you start a cooking blog?
I love cooking (and food!), so the main driving factor behind starting my cooking blog was being able to organize and share some of my favorite and best recipes. I hardly ever follow a recipe exactly when cooking (except when baking, but that’s a different story). However, this has often led me to a couple of problems.
First, is when I cook for friends or family and someone loves something so much they ask for the recipe. It would inevitably lead to me awkwardly fumbling to explain that there honestly is no recipe, because I literally just threw some ingredients together. Which brings me to my second problem, I don’t have a recipe for myself. So I couldn’t always get my recipes to turn out exactly the same each time. Sometimes I would forget ingredients or others I just couldn’t get things just right. While this kept life interesting, it also made me kind of sad. And so, Namaste Home Cooking was born.
Is the pun intended?
Yes, absolutely! I’m cheesy like that.
I like to think of it as, “I could go out…..but namaste home cooking instead.”
Can I use your images and/or recipes on my website or blog?
I work really hard on all of the recipes, content, and pictures I post on my cooking blog, so all recipes and pictures are copyrighted. However, if you love any of my recipes as much as I do, I do welcome sharing! If you use any of my photos, please include at least one link back to the recipe post directly or to https://namastehomecooking.com. I do not allow republication of my post content or recipe text. If you have questions about my terms or a specific post, please feel free to contact me.