Friday Foodie – Stephie of Stephie Cooks
She doesn't like chocolate and she is not sorry! I love that about Stephie Swope of Stephie Cooks! Chocolate or not Stephie bakes with soul, when I hopped over to her blog to make sure I had all the right links, I swear her Texas roadhouse rolls photos from the post on her home page had me stunned into a food-envy induced silence.
There are a lot of really great recipes on Stephie Cooks, including some really awesome adult beverages (Bourbon slushy anyone?) but I am a sucker for fresh baked bread products. She is also a cat lady…got to love that!
Let's meet Stephie!
[1] Have you always been a foodie, or is that something you grew into?
I was one of those strange kids who ate literally everything my parents put in front of me (except for chocolate, I have never liked chocolate) (yes, I do realize that is perfectly bizarre), so I suppose you could say that I have been a foodie since birth. I have always loved trying new foods and flavor combinations, though I have really come into seeking out new foods since graduating from college.
[2] How and why did you begin your blog?
I started the blog the fall after graduating from college. I was living by myself in my first apartment and found it weird to come home from work at night and not have a club or organization or second job to go to – so, I started cooking. I had started reading food blogs several months prior and thought, “Hey, I bet I could do that.” Three years later, I'm still surprised and delighted to have more than just my mom and best friend reading and cooking along.
[3] What’s your favorite thing to make/cook?
Pie! I love to bake – I would honestly call myself more of a baker than a cook, although I do a bit of both on my site – and pie is my all-time favorite thing to bake. I grew up watching my mother make these perfectly flaky, delicious pie crusts and will always love taking the tools she gave me to make a perfect pie.
[4] What is your favorite thing to eat?
Pie! Favorite to bake, favorite to eat. I love a good pie almost more than anything, although my boyfriend, Alex, did recently tell me that lamb is my savory kryptonite. So, pie or lamb.
[5] What is your comfort food?
Pie–don't hate me! I would say that I am kidding, but really, I'm not. My mom's chicken pot pie is my favorite meal on the planet and my absolute perfect comfort food.
[6] Describe your perfect food day?
This might be weird and counter-intuitive, but one in which I don't have to do all the cooking. I love to cook, but it is so nice to have someone else cook for you on occasion. If I could start with a big brunch out – big diner breakfasts are one of my favorite things – and end with a meal that Alex and I make together, such as his famous homemade meatballs, that would be a great food day. (Pie for dessert wouldn't hurt either, though I'll certainly take a big scoop of butter pecan ice cream, too.)
[7] What are three other blogs that inspire you?
There are so many! Of course “big” bloggers such as Joy the Baker or The Pioneer Woman are great to follow and gain inspiration from, but I am inspired most by my dearest friends:
Julia over at The Roasted Root, Stefanie from Sarcastic Cooking, Christina from Dessert for Two and Jenn from Peas and Crayons have been long-time friends of mine to whom I constantly look for advice, inspiration and support. And yes, I cheated. That's 4.
[8] Do you have advice for bloggers just starting out?
For the love of all that's holy, it's ok to take a break every now and again. I am just now coming to terms with that piece of advice, but don't take 3 years to get there like I did. Starting and maintaining a blog is a lot of work, but you need to take care of yourself, too. If you need to only post once/week for a few weeks, that's ok. If you need to take a vacation, do it. Your readers will be there when you get back, and they will love that you have taken them time you need to focus on creating truly outstanding content for them.
Thanks Stephie!
Keep up with Stephie’s tasty tidbits on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest and of course by visiting Stephie Cooks.
How about you? What would you like to ask Stephie? What’s would your perfect food day?
OMG Andi that looks so fantastic! I’m a huge fan of pasta, never was before I met my wife. I always buy fresh parm it makes a huge difference on my garlic bread, ceaser salads etc… Nothing hits the tummy like pasta, bread and salad!
@Brian, fresh cheese is the best!
I love Stephie (and her mom). It’s nice to learn a little more about her.
@Karen, so glad to hear you are found, she is so adorable! Looks like you are a food blogger too, let me know if you are interested in being featured too, I’d love to have you.
Great interview, that Stephie is pretty adorable!
@Kari, isn’t she?! Looks like you are a food blogger too, if you would like to be featured, I’d love to have you!
Love this interview with Stephie. Take a break every once in a while is definitely something I need to work on. I tend to guilt myself pretty heavily if i don’t post every single day.
@Brenda, you will eventually need a break trust me, better to work them in gently.
You are super inspiring! And all the food looks amazing! It gives me hope for my future in cooking 😉
@Marissa, Stephie is pretty amazing, and those pies look outrageous.
What a fun interview! I love that her favorite thing to bake is pie! That’s my favorite thing to eat! 😉 That pie is gorgeous! Everything else looks delicious too, and I love her advice to take a break sometimes! It’s definitely easy to get overwhelmed and try to do too much and then get stressed.
@Heather, I love pies too, especially savory ones.
I can see why Stephie loves to make and eat pie, hers looks delicious and so sweet with the little love hearts and key hole heart, amazing 🙂
@Fi, I know right? She can make a pie for me any day.
Her meals look SO hearty. I love it. Totally going over to learn how to make a pie.
@Nancy, they look delicious but I am pretty sure I will always make pie with pre-made crust – I am just not that patient or talented!
I love pie too! And as a relatively new blogger, I also really appreciate the advice. There are so many weeks where I just don’t feel inspired or maybe I’m just crazy busy and it’s hard not to get down on yourself for not posting more frequently.
Cassie
http://www.cravingcreations.com
@Cassie, when I started out someone very wise told me to OWN my blog, meaning I set the rules, I set what feels right, you will get total burnout if you don’t take some breaks 🙂
Doesn’t like chocolate?!?! That’s okay, nobody’s perfect (hee hee). Looks like she does lots of other stuff very well!
@Michelle, more chocolate for us!
Yay a fellow pie lover! I love learning more about food bloggers! I don’t know how to cook anything (does sandwiches count?) and that’s why I love food blogs because they inspire me to finally learn how cook <3
@Angelic, they inspire me to want to eat 🙂
She had me at chicken pot pie! <3 Beautiful photos! <3
This is a great interview indeed. I had to chuckle at a woman who doesn’t love chocolate just because I find it rare and that in itself make her unique. lol I would say chicken pot pie and is one of my favorites too but growing up in an Italian family, I do love my meatballs. Thanks for sharing.
@Rebecca, chicken pot pies are definitely stuff of childhood nostalgia.
That’s great advice. I take a break every once in a while or I’ll get burnout. I love food blogs because I always find something that I want to make. Will have to check out Steph’s blog.
@Amanda, checking out food bloggers is dangerous and in terms of taking a break it is something we all have to do.
The famous meatball recipe looks quite lovely, I want to try the recipe.
Yummm Everything looks so good! I have a feeling I’m going to have the check out Stephie others recipes 🙂
It is so interesting that she considers herself born a foodie! I would never look that fit and good if I cooked as well as her.
What a fun interview! Anything with food in it has my attention. Awesome! Love the pictures..
I don’t know the first place to start with food. All I know how to use is a toaster!
Awesome post! That pie looks crazy yummy! I’m a major foodie. 🙂
Thanks for finding me a great food blog to follow!! I checked out the website already and you’re right. The homepage alone has me drooling! Love that pie is her favourite thing to bake/cook, eat and is her comfort food. I’m right there with you Stephie!
@Carolann, finding food bloggers is addicting!
I was sooo one of those weird kids that ate everything their parents made…except oatmeal. Never could go for oatmeal. But CHOCOLATE?!!! I’m shocked.
@Rebecca, I know kind of hard to imagine.
What a great interview and the food looks all delicious ! I really should try some of these recipes.
Who does not like chocolate?
@Freya, Stephie is the first person who wasn’t allergic to chocolate who doesn’t like chocolate.
I also love to make and eat pie. My favorite foods for this time of the year include roasts, soups and stews.
@Ann, what is your favorite kind of pie?
Her food looks so delicious. What a great interview.
Andi! Was out of town this weekend at a wedding and just getting the chance to thank you for having me as this past week’s feature! Always happy to share the good news of pie. 🙂 xoxo
@Stephie, it was awesome to have you and obviously you have a lot of fans and fellow pie lovers.
This was a great interview! Her food looks so amazing, yum! 🙂
Who wouldn’t love a women that loves making pies??? I love the pics so much that I pinned your post to my Foodie board on pinterest. Thanks for the fun interview.
@Margarita, so true, I never met a pie I didn’t like!
Great interview, I got a great sense of Stephie is, and she sounds super-cool! 🙂 Her pies look mouth-watering, and the chicken pot pie recipe is going into my bookmarks – I LOVE chicken pot pie! Definitely one of my fav comfort foods. :9
xo,
lauriel
EyeForElegance.com
@Lauriel, love chicken pot pie too, no better comfort food!
Hey Andi, Sorry for the delayed response, I just deleted a few hundred emails, and realized that I hadn’t responded to you yet :/ I would be honored to be featured on your blog! Just let me know, and thank-you!
@Kari, no worries, sending you questions now!