Introducing Eating with Emily

Clever Parents is excited to announce a new weekly column, Eating with Emily. Emily, mom to Cameron 15 months, is an avid foodie. With Emily’s column, you can look forward to weekly kitchen tips, features like an upcoming 3-part series on pantry essentials for all types of cooks - from a ‘Pantry Primer’ list for basic items everyone should stock in their pantries, to the ‘Uber Gourmet Pantry’ for true chefs, and more! We caught up with Emily to learn more about onion-loving toddlers, her ideas for a great date night (shocker - it involves food), her job as a kitchen consultant and flaming potholders.Clever Parents: What do you think influenced your love for cooking?
Emily: Definitely my mom, she was a “stay at home” mom, and from the time we could stand by her side, she was letting us help — by measuring ingredients and with simple prep work.

Clever Parents: What is your earliest cooking memory?
Emily: Either ’squishing’ (mixing) homemade meatloaf with my mom, or cutting out and frosting kris kringle Christmas cookies.

CP: What fun experiences have you had in the kitchen with your toddler, Cameron?
Emily: Well right now, Cameron isn’t really into cooking yet, but I do let him stand on a chair next to me and play with utensils with me while I do prep work on the counter. The best was when he ate a handful of freshly chopped onions and then signed to me that he wanted more.
CP: Tell us about your job.
Emily: I am a kitchen consultant with Pampered Chef. I get to do all my prep work and paperwork from home and then a couple evenings a month, I go to a client’s home and put together a kitchen show that showcases our cooking and entertaining products. I also give tons of kitchen tips and ideas for entertaining. It is a great way to meet new people and potential clients. The best part about it is that I get to make my own schedule — I don’t work in December and I can schedule as many or as few shows a month. And, I get to work from home.

CP: Your idea of a great date night?
Emily: A childless new restaurant exploration. My husband and I love FLAVOR and will eat just about anything.

CP: What are your favorite activities?
Emily: Cooking, reading about cooking, Running, Sewing, and just about any outdoor activity, although I wouldn’t consider myself an expert at an specific activity — we like to dabble.

CP: What did you do before Cameron was born?
Emily: Before Cameron was born, I did a couple of things. During grad school, I was an event planner for the college that I attended. The events ranged from professional functions to weddings to 2,000 person receptions. After grad school, I was a Family and Consumer Sciences instructor. I have taught a number of courses — Adult Education, Professional and Personal Etiquette, Meal Management, Clothing Design, and Interior Design. I taught on the college level and then for 2 years in WCPSS at Enloe HS.

CP: Do you have any funny cooking experiences to share?
Emily: I used to teach a Meal Management course — I taught a unit on food demonstrations one day (like those you see on the Food Network). I was teaching techniques for assembling ingredients, for working through a recipe, and stylish food presentation when unbeknownst to me, my potholder caught fire as I was taking something from the oven. It took a few moments for one of my students to get my attention and let me know. After that, we talked about how to recover from mistakes. :-)