Every week we profile a talented Canadian food blogger.
Name: Samantha Gutmanis
Blog name: My Kitchen Love
Where were you born? Vancouver, BC
Where are you living now? North Vancouver, BC (always a West coast girl)
Why did you start your blog?
I was looking for something creative to do while my newborn twins were sleeping (crazy I know). It built up from there, along with me having a 3rd baby and trying to navigate the waters of motherhood with 3 very small kids.
How did you decide on your blog name?
I had a long list that I tested out on family and friends and ‘My Kitchen Love’ was the only one that really spoke to the love coming from my kitchen.
What do you blog about?
Making everyday family recipes tastier, healthy (ish), and easier for busy people/parents. I spend a lot of time figuring out how to make dishes faster and easier while imparting more flavours that everyone loves (even the pickiest of eaters).
Is your blog your business, your hobby or something in between?
It started as a fun hobby to let me live my type A ways, but it’s definitely evolved into a (very) small business. Being a mom is one of the most, if not the most, challenging experiences I’ve had and having a creative outlet outside of mom-land provides me with a sense of accomplishment.
What post on your blog most encapsulates you and why?
Probably “In Memory – Scottish Mince and Tatties”. It is my life. It’s a family recipe that I recreated many years after my Nana passed away and is my late brother’s favourite dish. It was a difficult post to publish, but in the end I’m glad I did.
Which post do you wish received more love and why?
This BLT Rice Bowl with Avocado Lime Dressing could use a lot more love. The dressing is crazy good (like I still dream about it good) and it makes enough to dump the leftover dressing on top of anything else to make it taste better (talking to you fried eggs).
Which post’s success surprised you and why?
This post is basically a super yummy taco deconstructed, but went viral and is now by far my most popular post. It timed the taco phenomenon well. It’s very family friendly, especially for segregates eaters and the leftovers transform into an epic lunch.
What’s your biggest challenge as a blogger?
Time. As a parent of 3 young kids there’s never enough time each day to do everything. There are also all those things I don’t want to do, but have to (aka laundry and cleaning). I have to manage my time carefully and focus on what’s important each hour of each day.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a blogger?
Always have fun. If I’m not really into a recipe or my passion for blogging is going through a rocky time I really need to hit pause and come back when I’m inspired to do so. Slogging through food blogging just isn’t possible (for me).
Share a couple of your favourite food blogs to read. Why do you like them?
Tara O’Brady’s Seven Spoons. I got to meet her during her book launch and truthfully hadn’t heard of her until then. I’m now a huge fan based on a simple 2-minute conversation we had and I cook from her cookbook frequently.
I’m (majorly) obsessed with Bon Appétit Magazine and in love one of their contributor’s blogs. Jenny and Andy blog over at Dinner a Love Story and previously wrote “The Providers” column for BA. I adore their frankness on what happens at a family dinner table and what’s work for their family so far.
Favourite food - care to share a recipe or a restaurant destination?
All the carbs in all the land. Specifically pasta dishes like this Squash Carbonara. Other than that, ice cream is basically my secondary diet 😉
What are you working on next for your blog?
I’ve got a recipe for a Slow Cooker Roast Chicken and how to stretch the chicken to last 4 full family meals. I’ve been working on it for a while and autumn seems perfect to publish it.
What else should we know about you that may or not be in your “About Me” page?
I love blogging for the community it’s opened up for me. Food Bloggers of Canada has been a tremendous resource and there are so many members that I admire and look up to. Blogging is a constantly changing and challenging environment, but it’s a blast when you do it alongside wonderful people. Blogging can be very isolating, especially food blogging, but I’m thankful for the friends I’ve made through it by attending various functions and by reaching out when I need a hand.
What makes your blog unique?
Only the best of the best make it onto the blog. If it doesn’t pass the muster of family, friends, and myself it won’t make it onto the blog.
What part of the FBC site do you find most useful?
The various templates available (invoicing and I will never be friends) and the Marketing/PR Desk. I’ve been through most of those posts a number of times. Not on the website, but I love the FBC emails that notify me of events in my area that allow me to meet virtual friends in real life.
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I love this post!! 😀 You are a machine! 3 kids and a food blog….my head spins….