What is your name and/or business and blog name and your age range if you'd like to share (no biggie if not).
Natalie Slater, Bake and Destroy and I'm 33 years old.
What do you do? ...and when did you start?
I've been writing a food blog called Bake and Destroy since 2006. It spawned a bunch of side projects like SugarSlam, a pro-wrestling-themed bake off and Food Puncher, my son's healthy snack review column but I'm most excited about my book, Bake and Destroy: Good Food for Bad Vegans. It comes out in mid-August but it's available for pre-sale wherever books are sold online right now!
What/Who are you inspired by?
I draw a lot from my childhood, which I spent touring the country with my grandparents or parked in front of the TV. A lot of my recipes are based on a combination of things I ate while road tripping with Gram and Papa and TV shows and movies I loved as a kid.
Where is your favorite place to be?
I live in Chicago and I am a city slicker through and through. I like to jump on the El with my son Teno and hop off at our favorite sweet shop Angel Food Bakery. Then we jump on again and stop into Uncle Fun for important stuff like whoopie cushions and fake dog poop. I like to be where there's lots to do, so Chicago is the perfect place for me.
What are some of your fave movies/shows/bands/music?
My favorite movies are Rocky, They Live and Slapshot - featuring my three all-time biggest crushes: Sylvester Stallone, Roddy Piper and Paul Newman. I can't stand reality TV or sitcoms, so I mostly watch cartoons - Bob's Burgers, Adventure Time and Regular Show are some of my favorites. I love youth crew hardcore - stuff like Gorilla Biscuits and Youth of Today - it got me through high school with a positive attitude and it still motivates me to try to make every day better than the last.
Do you collect anything?
Oh man, I collect everything. I actually just gave my massive Re-Ment/Megahouse miniature faux food collection away to my niece because I have a seven year old and every time he runs through the house teeny tiny little cupcakes and milkshakes go flying. So right now I'm focusing on my collection of 1950s chalkware figurines - mostly animals wearing clothes or anthropomorphic food. I also have pretty many pieces of Everyday is a Holiday art!
Favorite thing you've ever made...or fave go-to ingredients?
A while back my husband Tony and I just started making these bowls packed with every nutrient-dense food we could think of, we call it Bowl of Stuff. It's so easy to throw one together, and it's never the same thing twice - it's one of the most popular posts I've ever done.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I'd love to do a web show, and maybe by then Teno will be old enough that I won't feel guilty for spending time developing recipes and editing videos instead of with him. (He'll be 12! It makes me cry to think about it.) I'd love to do a cooking show for kids - something like Pee-Wee's Playhouse or Yo Gabba Gabba but with a focus on where our food comes from and how kids can help to make healthy food for their whole family.
Three favorite websites/blogs/shops...etc?
Lucky Cupcake Hairclips - My friend Joy makes the cutest pop culture-inspired hair accessories. I feel naked without a Morrissey bow in my hair or a pizza head wrap tied around my noggin.
Betty Turbo - Agnes illustrated my book and I have her prints ALL over my house. We like all the same things - wrestling, donuts, Twin Peaks. She's wonderful!
Circa Ceramics - Nancy and Andy made special pieces that are featured in my book as well. Anyone who screens monster trucks on dinnerware is a-ok in my book!
Anything else you'd like to add?
I just want to thank everyone who has read my blog over the years - I've met the nicest people via a food blog full of cussing and slasher film references, it's amazing. Oh, and I'm going to be launching a pretty great contest soon for people who pre-order my book so make sure you follow me on Twitter or like me on Facebook so you can get the details!
..............................
This is where I should preemptively say "You're very welcome." Because I think everyone will thank me for introducing them to Natalie! I love peeps like Natalie who don't fit into a neat, predetermined little niche. Out of 31 flavors, she's number 32. And what she said about meeting the nicest people amid cussing and slasher film references, well that goes both ways...because she's like ultra sweet to the core (and don't let her try to convince you otherwise). Me and Aaron love her little family, such a great trio. And you must catch Teno's snack reviews. The kid is so adorable...and growing up so fast!
I guess what we all love most about Natalie and Bake and Destroy is the consistent sense of humor that runs through everything she touches. Like, she's serious, has got real skills and knowledge and opinions, but she's gonna serve them to you with plenty of pitch perfect wit and sarcasm. Can't wait for her book. Aside from being filled with amazing recipes, it's one cookbook that you'll actually enjoy reading...and I expect you'll read parts aloud to your friends.
So thrilled to feature Natalie here and if any of you guys are just finding her right now through this post...well, "You're very welcome."
xo, Jenny...and Aaron
..............................
This is where I should preemptively say "You're very welcome." Because I think everyone will thank me for introducing them to Natalie! I love peeps like Natalie who don't fit into a neat, predetermined little niche. Out of 31 flavors, she's number 32. And what she said about meeting the nicest people amid cussing and slasher film references, well that goes both ways...because she's like ultra sweet to the core (and don't let her try to convince you otherwise). Me and Aaron love her little family, such a great trio. And you must catch Teno's snack reviews. The kid is so adorable...and growing up so fast!
I guess what we all love most about Natalie and Bake and Destroy is the consistent sense of humor that runs through everything she touches. Like, she's serious, has got real skills and knowledge and opinions, but she's gonna serve them to you with plenty of pitch perfect wit and sarcasm. Can't wait for her book. Aside from being filled with amazing recipes, it's one cookbook that you'll actually enjoy reading...and I expect you'll read parts aloud to your friends.
So thrilled to feature Natalie here and if any of you guys are just finding her right now through this post...well, "You're very welcome."
xo, Jenny...and Aaron