Lets work to stay warm on this cool day in MN and talk with @AmbitiousKitch about food! Enjoy the conversation!

Good morning Monique! When it comes to food and cooking, what is one of your earliest memories of doing that?

Monique:    Hi Joel! My first memories would have to be watching both of my parents cook with passion. Dad baked and Mom cooked!

Do you remember the first time you made something? What was it and how did it turn out?

Monique:    When I was younger I found it easier to bake; I loved that it was both science and an art.

That being said, I baked a lot of brownies. I’m sure they turned out pretty well, because I always ate them.

Brownies are ALWAYS a good choice! :) When did you decide to start cooking/blogging?

Monique:    During college, I found that it was my passion but I didn’t know how to turn it into a career.

I followed food blogs & thought it would be a great way to share my recipes w/ others. I started AK in late 2011.

Having a passion for what you do is important. Who are some of the people & their blogs that inspire(d) you?

Monique:    I absolutely love the blogging community. I have a passion for brand building & content creation so it’s perfect.

My favorite blogs are @sugarplumtweets & @HowSweetBlog. They’re both incredibly creative and funny!

Other than that my readers inspire me every single day with their comments and emails; they’re amazing!

Cooking is one skill, blogging and photography are other skills. Which one is the hardest to develop?

Monique:    Probably photography. It involves props, proper lighting, and telling a visual story.

But you know, there’s workshops & you can read books. I kind of just wing the whole photography thing & it works out.

When it comes to your own taste, are you more of a sweet or savory person?

Monique:    SWEET, but I focus my blog on sweet delights & healthy bites. I love making recipes healthy, creative, and flavorful!

I see. What are some cooking/baking trends that you are most excited about?

Monique:    I think making vegetables the star in our meals — cauliflower will be huge this year. Popcorn too!

I’m also excited to see flavor-packed chicken make a comeback in restaurants. I think we’ll see a lot of creativity.

Another ever-growing trend is pizza, as brought out in @MNMOmag – http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/media/Minnesota-Monthly/March-2013/The-Twin-Cities-Best-Pizza/ … Do you have a favorite?

Monique:    Hmmmm I like to make my own but Pizzeria Lola and Punch are pretty divine.

When you make your own pizza, what are some of your favorite toppings?

Monique:    Homemade mini Hawaiian turkey meatballs, pineapple, black olives, fresh mozzarella, and a good red sauce.

Nice! :) In your blogging/cooking process, does your own appetite guide you, or do your readers more so?

Monique:    Mostly me. I need to put out content and recipes that I’m proud of and I like challenging myself in that way.

What can we expect from you in the near future with your food work?

Monique:    A brand new site, partnerships, and maybe a cookbook. Oh and more recipes of course!

Joel:    Thank you very much for your time and comments today. Keep up the good work in making things look delicious!

Monique:    No problem, thanks for having me! :)

Interview conducted on March 15,2013

Stephanie Meyer is a true socialite when it comes to food and entertaining. She does writing and contributes her high quality photography to several food blogs, such as the Food & Wine blog with friend and Travel Channel star, Andrew Zimmern, to Minnesota Monthly magazine’s TC Taste blog, and to her very own food blog entitled, Fresh Tart.

In 2011 she took it upon herself to organize a group of bloggers called the MN Food Bloggers. They encourage, assist and support each other as well as spotlight local restaurants, cooking styles and various dietary focuses in eating and cooking. In Part 1 of her interview, Stephanie talks about her family, modeling and how she developed her photography skills. (Part 2 on WED and Part 3 on THU.)

In Part 2 of her interview, Stephanie shares what the focus of her blog is, how life as a person on a Gluten-Free diet has been for her and then she concludes by talking about her experience in organizing the MN Food Bloggers group.

In Part 3 of her interview, Stephanie shares what her favorite kinds of restaurants are, what inspires her blog postings, where she enjoys eating outside of her home state of Minnesota and then ends with talking about how Social Media has really changed her life.

@JoelECarlson: Hello everyone! Today’s special Food-Friday guest is Twin Cities food phenom @susanpowers. Lets find out what she’s been cook’n.

Susan: Hey Joel

Q – #1    To start, share with us where you grew up, went to school and what your 1st adult job was.

Susan: I grew up in the Lake Minnetonka area.

First adult job was as a usher at the Old Log Theater and Bacon Drug in Excelsior.

Maybe that isn’t an adult job…lol.

First adult job, out of college was a clothing designer.

Q – #2    So where did you go to college, what was your major and how long did you design clothes for?

Susan: I went to the U of M, I majored in Applied Design and I designed clothes for a few years, until I had my first daughter

at that point I was more interested in being a mom. They are only small for a short amount of time.

Q – #3    When then did you get back to working outside the home, and what led you to working in raw food?

Susan: I always worked, but would run businesses out of my home. My interest in raw food came about when I realized that I

wasn’t feeling the best I could and I realized it was the way I was eating. I started having some health issues. I

Figured that if eating wrong got me there, eating well could help fix the problems.

I started experimenting with raw and was amazed at how good I felt.

Q – #4    How did the publishing and photography come from your work?

Susan: When I started http://www.rawmazing.com, I was writing recipes and I new I had to take pictures of them for the blog.

I kept shooting, and the photos kept getting better. I decided to learn as much as I possibly could about food

photography and shot thousands of images, perfecting my shooting.

My books were an outgrowth of Rawmazing. A way to monetize., and also get some books out there.

Q – #5    Self taught photography? Amazing! What were some of the foods you figured out that you liked raw?

Susan: Yes, self taught. Raw Foods, I love food. So my biggest challenge was to make the dishes I normally enjoy raw.

I honestly love everything I make, or I wouldn’t make it. Raw can be very interesting and vast

But for me, it is always about experimenting and creating new stuff.

My raw food is more of the gourmet raw….not so much compost on a plate, raw. :-)

Q – #6    You recently started @ShootTheKitch with @FreshTartSteph. Explain what that is about.

Susan: It is an adventure into the sides of chef’s and restaurants that you normally don’t get to see.

I love shooting food and people. What better way to combine those two loves.

@freshtartsteph volunteered to do the recipes because I didn’t want to work with certain ingredients.It has been great

Q – #7    It’s great to do work that you love! Any new projects or books coming up in the near future?

Susan: I am working on a transitional raw food book and we have some amazing shoots coming up on @shootthekitch

I am completely in love with the photography so will be doing as much of that as I can.

@freshtartsteph has been a gas to work with. Her energy is amazing and a great contribution to @shootthekitch

Q – #8    More about YOU! Favorite(s): Restaurant, store, co-op/market, vegetable, fruit, TC neighborhood and book/movie.

Susan: Wow! ok…Restaurant. That is like asking which is my favorite kid. I love them both with all my heart, but I love

different things about them. That said, Lurcat has been a fav for a long time. I always completely relax when I sink

into those white chairs. Co-op, love them all for different reasons. I shop Lakewinds mostly.

Vegetable: Kale, Fruit: Watermelon but I am having a pineapple obsession right now…

Neighborhood….no clue…I live west of the TC, we really don’t have neighborhoods, Book: “Like Water for Chocolate

Movie: Sense and Sensibility, I am a romantic.

Q – #9    I forgot to ask, when you need a “pick-me-up” comfort food, what do you eat?

Susan: lol…that is an oxymoron. Pick me up would be a green drink….2 handfuls of greens, some fruit, very good.

Comfort food…Chocolate chip cookies…homemade by me, not raw…lol.

Q – #10    Raw cookie dough? :)  If you could invite 1 person (dead/alive) for a meal, who would you ask and why?

Susan: Probably the Dalai Lama His peace, power, energy, knowledge, serenity, those are all things I would love to experience.

I hear he also has a great sense of humor. #jectv And no…no raw cookies. Bake those babies.

Q – #11    To close today, what advice would you give to newbies in the blog/food/photo world?

Susan: Be prepared to work your butt off, strive to do the best you can do, find your own voice and niche and go for it!

@JoelECarlson: Good points! Thanks @susanpowers for participating in today’s Food-Friday Twitterview and sharing some of your life on #jectv. Take care!

Susan: Thank you!!

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone, and welcome to the Food-Friday Twitterview of @FoodforMyFamily. Set your timers to 1hr and then serve. :)

Q – #1    So @FoodforMyFamily, lets find out a little bit about your background. Where did you grow up and go to school?

A: I grew up in the Twin Cities. St. Paul, then moved to Champlin. Graduated from high school and found myself @ UofMN

my husband and I moved back towards campus while he was in grad school, and we’ve been here ever since.

Q – #2    I see. So what did you take for coursework at the UofM, and what did you do after you finished there?

A: I studied psychology and Spanish studies at UMN, and after I worked at The Courage Center b4 leaving to work 4 myself,

Q – #3    What kind of business is is, and how did you come up with the idea?

A: I originally did accounting work and later editing, transcription and consulting for different clients.

then I transitioned that into freelance writing when I needed something more personally fulfilling.

Food, cooking & feeding others had always been important to me, and it was one of the reasons I chose psychology in school, so it…

…seemed like a natural choice to start writing about what I loved and was passionate about.

Q – #4    What is the name of your blog, and what kind of cooking do you blog about?

A: My blog is http://foodformyfamily.com/ and I blog about what we eat as a family, menu plans, involving your family in cooking…

right now I’m doing a series on picky eaters: looking at different reasons for, different types, appropriate responses

Q – #5    What has been the response to your blog and how frequently do you generally make a posting?

A: I post 3x a week on my own blog. I write FT, tho, so you can find me writing several other places throughout the week

Q – #6    Lets get to @FoodforMyFamily’s FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, winter activity, comfort food and recent book.

A: Favorite MN restaurants right now: @CTKitchentable and @128cafe (of course, for being such gracious hosts) & my own dining room.

favorite winter activity: watching winter melt away into spring… We snowboard and cross-country ski, too.

Favorite comfort food: anything my grandma made for me as a child, which was mostly from her Eastern European roots.

I am currently reading @unmarketing’s book. #unbook

Q – #7    To close, you have 2 other hobbies, photography & the violin. With a family of 4, how do you make time for them?

A: unfortunately, they often get pushed aside, but because the photography is part of the job, it’s easier to justify.

& I do both in other areas: I teach violin lessons, and I also do photography for weddings, portraits, etc.

@JoelECarlson – You have a very diverse life. How fun! Thank you so much @FoodforMyFamily for your time and comments today. Have a great weekend!

@FoodforMyFamily – Thanks for having me, @JoelECarlson! Have a fantastic weekend.

@JoelECarlson – Hi everybody and welcome to the Snowy Twitterview of local foodie @krishase. Let get cooking!

@krishase – Cool. I like cooking.

Q – #1    Great! So @krishase, first share where you grew up, what schooling/work you’ve done that led you to what you do now.

A: Wow. That’s a lot. Grew up outside of Chicago. Tweeting about going to New Trier High School for the 2nd time today.

Moved to mpls to go to @mcad and kinda dual majored there in photography & web design. Then I taught myself how to cook well.

Which moved into food photography & web design for business that were more food oriented. #jectv (oops been forgetting that.)

Then I kinda went rogue and started a cooking group teaching things I wanted to learn about or explore.

Q – #2    Wow, multiple backgrounds. So are you a 1 person show then, or do you do collaborations as well?

A: As I wear a lot of hats – I love collaborations. It’s like taking a vacation when you don’t hve 2 think of everything.

Q – #3    I see. So what kinds of companies have you done web work for, do you have a kind of “target group” of businesses?

A: Let’s see – I started in non-profits, went to start-ups, then a large corp, then back to startups & non-profits again.

I like working for people who have very defined business goals and working my butt off for them to meet their goals.

Q – #4    I see. So do you come up with all of the web design and the content generally?

A: Yes. But I’d rather not. I like for my clients to talk about their business as they’ve got the passion.

I prefer to concentrate on communicating that passion through the art, structure and all that good stuff.

Q – #5    Got it. Lets shift gears to food. What kind of cooking have you learned to do, and do you blog about it?

A: I do grandma food. I love taking very classic foods and giving them a bit of funk.

I blogged for quite awhile: tobemrsmarv.com but Marv and I split up and I just haven’t turned it into something else

Q – #6    Sorry about that. :(  Can you give some examples of classic food w/funk that you’ve done?

A: Well, my most recent favorite thing was a curried pecan granola, very yummy.

Something else I’ve been playing with are goat cheese & fresh ricotta cheesecakes baked in jelly jars.

They started with me baking at @ctkitchentable and have moved from lemon/ginger to pumpkin for Thanksgiving.

I love taking non-traditional flavors & putting them w/ things people wouldn’t expect. It’s that whole creative thing.

Q – #7 You’re right, those are funky! Are you more of a dessert person or do you dabble in everything?

A: I dabble in everything. I actually don’t consider myself to be a great baker. I rock at soups tho.

Q – #8    Awesome! Lets get to your FAVS: Restaurant, food store, cooking utensil store, smell & unique food to cook with.

A: Wow. Well, if I didn’t say @ctkitchentable was my fav restaurant I’d get shunned – Food Store @mississippimarket

favorite smell is baking bread – unique food is durian (I know. But I like it, anyway.)

And durian is totally not my favorite smell.

Q – #9    You like photography too! What kinds of subjects/objects do you focus on? Does your mind ever shut off? (hyper-creative)

A: I photograph architecture, food, people, nature & events for the most part. http://bit.ly/hdw71z covers most of it.

And No, my brain doesn’t really ever shut off.

I think that’s the thing that attracted me to web design – I get bored easily and there’s too much there to get bored.

Q – #10    Probably a blessing & a curse huh? If you could invite 1 person (dead/alive) for a meal, who’d you invite and why?

A: My grandmother. I know, such a cliche. But she was the inspiration for so much that I do and she died 20 yrs ago.

Can I invite Sam Kinnison too?

Q – #11    It’s your party. :)  To end today, what advice or mantra would you like to share with everyone following?

A: On cooking it would be, “it’s just food. No need to get so freaked out.”

On photography and design – I’d say, “Hire me! I’ll make you look good!”

On photography and design – I’d say, “Hire me! I’ll make you look good!”

@JoelECarlson – Thank you very much for your time and your comments today @krishase! You are a very talented and creative person. All the best.

@krishase – Thank you too! It was fun!

@JoelECarlson – Hi everybody! It’s time for Twitterview No.2 today, and our guest is @inkblotsart. Lets get this started!

@inkblotsart – I’m doing this via iPhone so I apologize for any delays!

Q – #1    No worries. iWon’t get mad about an iPhone. :) So to start @inkblotsart, tell us where you grew up and where you went to school?

A: I lived in St. Paul until I was 5 then lived most of my childhood in Little Canada, a St. Paul suburb.

I went to Roseville HS for high school, spend 4 years at the U of M and graduated from Globe College (now Globe University).

*Spent 4 years…yay iPhone auto correct. :)

Q – #2    So how did you get to become a digital artist, and please also explain what your art form is?

A: I went to school for graphic design and absolutely love working on computers. I’ve always been somewhat artistic so it was a good fit

Digital art is art created using a computer as your medium. Whether it’s painting, collage, fractals, etc.

I became a digital artist because I was rejected from interior design school. I failed my portfolio review b/c I used too much color!

Q – #3    Failure brought you to a good place! :) So explain what your collages are about and where ppl can see them now.

A: Well I have 3 different facets of work: location collages, mixed media collages and custom work.

The location collages are based on a city, neighborhood, college or event. I go out and take all of the photographs for them.

The mixed media collages are mostly focused around vintage themes & use advertisements from old magazines.

The custom work is collages that are created for individuals or businesses using photos & other items that they provide me with.

Q – #4    You now have a gallery opening up where people can see your work. Where is it, and when does it open?

A: People can find my work at retail stores around town and at art fairs during the summer.

The gallery is called Studio at 795 and is located at 795 Raymond Ave in St. Paul. Right down the street from Keys Restaurant.

The grand opening is tonight!! From 7-10. Live music & cupcakes!!

It’s a collaboration with my boyfriend Karl Johnson, who is a photographer. He’ll be here tonight shooting portraits for $25.

We’ll be open tomorrow from 10-5 for a more family friendly event. Hot cider & cookies & balloons for kids.

Q – #5    Cool! Now to you personally: what are you FAVS – restaurant, store, winter activity, tech gadget & color.

A: Favorite restaurant: Cecil’s Deli. Fave store: toss up between Ikea & West Photo. Fave gadget: my iPhone!

I just learned to snowboard so I can’t say it’s my absolute favorite winter activity just yet, but it’s getting there. :) #jectv

And as my Twitter profile says, I’m a chartreuse fanatic, or any kind of lime-ish green color. My dad now calls it “Giesla green”.

Q – #6    Funny! :) So to end, what is a thought of the day or a mantra that you would like to share with everyone?

A: I have a print behind my desk that says “you’ve gotten this far, keep going.” It reminds me that you have to keep moving forward.

@JoelECarlson – Very good! It was a pleasure to meet you and all the best to you and Karl on your new studio. Thanks for your time.

@inkblotsart – Thanks so much, Joel! It was great chatting with you.

PHOTO – Karl Johnson of Scape Photography – www.scape-photo.com

@JoelECarlson – Hello everybody! Welcome to the Twitterview 2.0 of @ericamayer today. She’s ready to rock-n-roll! :)

Q – #1    @ericamayer, you were Twitterview #18 on March 26th, so we have some catching up to do. How was your Summer & Fall? Traveling?

A: lots of fun traveling :) NYC, LA, DC, San Fran -took time to catch up w.old friends. loved it!

ps. that was possible because of the unlimited flight Sun Country deal :) also hit Vegas w/the hubby!

Q – #2    Wow! NY, LA, DC, SF and Vegas. Maybe share 1 new/neat/interesting thing you got to do in each location?

A: NYC: visited @charitywater :) . DC: visited @defactosound @Genlack @thenuwanda at Discovery Channel.

Vegas: met @everywheretrip and saw Cirque w/the hubby, SF: stay with @bigcib and re-lived college memories. :)

Q – #3    Lots of activity! Now you also do “side projects” (i.e commercials, videos), have you done any lately?

A: yes :) just finished a project w/ @pleasefindthis and @dan_rodriguez -a music vid: http://youtu.be/UZJDW3PY5TI

@pleasefindthis is from South Africa…it’s great to work w/him-and see he and @dan_rodriguez create a touching song <3

Q – #4    Nice sound! In you’re “free time”, you also do photography work and are a founder of #jmu612. Talk about both of those.

A: yup, “puke rainbows” photo: http://on.fb.me/ahFFcs -started by taking avatar pics for ppl to raise $ for @charitywater

re: photo—> so busy I’m taking a bit of a photo break until 2011, hubby misses me, and @Wcco is super busy -no time :(

#JMU612 is a marketing/technology meetup. Yes, I’m a cofounder but @maikelvdm and @Joelecarlson make it easy to run :)

Q – #5    You do at least 1/3 of the work for #jmu612! :) Now locally, any new stores or restaurants that you’ve tried lately?

A: Went to @namastecafe with @maikelvdm awhile back-loved it! mmm. also, @commonroots and Broder’s Pasta Bar -favorites!

and of course everyone should check out @urbanbeancoffee where we hold #JMU612 :) rockin’ place!

Q – #6    Besides spending more time with the hubby, do you have some personal/professional goals that you’ve set for yourself?

A: Yeah, I think taking time to breathe…may sound silly. Sometimes we get so caught up in helping we forget that if we

are run down/burnt out/exhausted…we are worthless to the ppl we are trying to help. Trying 2get more than 2 hrs/sleep

also, to use my new camera to start exploring video more. I’m a producer/director by trade -love to improve shoot skill

Q – #7    Sleep is always good! Now are you coming up on an anniversary yet for your time working at @wcco?

A: Also, I’ve notice the @wcco website goes to what looks like a micro-site of @CBS, when did that happen?

I’ve officially been at @WCCO over 5 years now. Time flies :) the website switched this month. A big change, indeed.

Q – #8    You must be getting tired by now. So to end, what thought for the day or mantra would you like to share?

A: well, I’m a quote junkie. I’m going to share a few, if that’s OK? haha.

@JoelECarlson – Only if it’s something that @GRLitman has said. :) Go ahead.

A: “When u change the way you look at things, the things you look at, change.” (Dyer) -we can always control our reactions

Also, handouts don’t exist. If you want something, manifest it. The only person who can stop you…is you. ;-)

@JoelECarlson - Good thoughts to reflect on! Thanks so much @ericamayer for participating in your 2nd Twitterview. Have a great weekend!

@ericamayer – thanks a bunch, for all you do Joel :) You are ‘da bomb dot com.