Things you should know about me

Me with the ponytails in Banff, Alberta

  • While this blog is called Profiteroles & Ponytails, I rarely make profiteroles or complicated desserts and dishes. This is largely due to my two ponytails (ages 7 and 4) and full-time job in downtown Toronto.
  • Inspired from a one-day course at the Ritz Escoffier Cooking School in Paris and armed with my new copy of The Best Ever French Cooking Course Cookbook, I made profiteroles for the first time for a dinner party I hosted for a few girlfriends, more than 13 years ago. My interest in cooking has continued to grow from there.
  • I believe that food brings people together, shaping our memories and traditions in an understated yet powerful way. While we remember the conversations, the laughter, the warmth… a good meal is always there smiling in the background, likely holding hands with a good bottle of wine.
  • I like to cheat…when cooking of course! If there is a short cut, I am very likely to take it, given that I spend so much of my life stretched for time. (Think bottled roasted peppers, prepared mayo, and spaghetti sauce in a jar.) Although I do believe that some things are worth the extra effort. (Think flavoured butters, homemade granola and real mac & cheese.)
  • I am a big fan of dashes, splashes, handfuls, sprinkles, and glugs. Don’t be alarmed—I never use these measurements when baking. Precision is a must when it comes to baking, so I leave my dashes and splashes on the shelf where they belong when I bake.
  • I have to come clean. My girls don’t always wear ponytails—one wears a pony every day and the other will only wear one when she feels like it.
  • My favourite part of blogging is all the interesting people that I meet along the way. Thanks for dropping by!

84 Comments on “Things you should know about me”

  1. Jennifer Wah, ABC says:

    So thrilled to see you doing this, friend! And I will never forget that profiterole night!

  2. Nice blog. Hmm, all of a sudden I’m hungry!

  3. erwah says:

    Barbie! I remember those profiteroles! What a great memory 🙂 I love that you are doing this! I will confess that blogging is hard work, eh? Nicely done! xo

    • A great memory for me too Erica. I miss those days…. You are definitely right on that point. I wish there were more hours in the day. Hope all is well with your family. Say hi to Scott and your ponytails for me!

  4. debi sereda says:

    My rendition of your chili was a HUGE success! Because one of my guests can’t have wheat products, I wasn’t able to try the full recipe with the topping BUT I will make this recipe again in its entirety! Everyone loved the flavours and the addition of stuffed olives with spicy aji peppers gave it a little extra bite. The sweet flavours of the red peppers and spices really make this chili a winner!

  5. Karista says:

    Just stumbled onto your blog. Love it! I’ve got two ponytails myself, I call mine the two sassy gals. :). My gals are older however and they’ve kept me busy. Looking forward to browsing your recipes!

  6. ohiocook says:

    Thank you for reading and the “Like” of my post.

  7. Thank you for stopping by my blog and liking my Cape Cod photographs! I’m far better behind a camera than I’d ever be in the kitchen, but definitely follow your style on the splash, dash, pinch of this, that and the other front;) Have a wonderful day!

  8. Karista says:

    Hi Barb, I just nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. 🙂 Here’s the link: http://karistaskitchen.com/2012/08/10/strawberries-romanoff-and-two-very-belated-thank-yous/

  9. Alison O'Rourke says:

    Hi Barb!

    Stef passed me the link to your blog – I love it! I’m enjoying my mat leave with my ‘ponytail’ (well, one day!) Daisy and I look forward to trying some of your recipes!

    Thanks and take care,
    Alison

  10. frenchfry36 says:

    Food and family is a perfect combination! Lovely to meet you… and thanks for visiting my blog!

  11. musingmar says:

    I’ve nominated you for the Super Sweet Award. You can find out more details and see my comment about your blog here: http://lifethroughthekitchenwindow.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/super-sweet-blog-award/ . I enjoy your blog and was happy to tell others about it!

  12. What a fun blog you have, and happy to have found it!

  13. Anne says:

    Hi there, thanks for visiting my blog. It led me to yours and I must say I really like your blog and love the recipes you have posted. I look forward to reading more. -Anne

  14. Stefano says:

    Hi Barb,
    Thank you for stopping by our blog and commenting on my post on Prosecco.
    Congratulations on your very nice blog: I am grateful that your comment made me find it. Being (also) a photographer, I appreciate the photos that you published to illustrate your posts: did you take them yourself? Great job!
    All the best

  15. mmmarzipan says:

    Love your blog! It feels very warm and genuine and the food posts all look delicious! 🙂 So glad to be following!

  16. What a lovely comment! Thanks so much. Glad to be connected as I’m looking forward to following your blog too. Your squash and chickpea soup is on my list of things to make!

  17. Adorable little ones:) Looking forward to following your ponytailed culinary tales:)

  18. Thanks so much for visiting my humble blog! Your cooking style seems similar to mine (when I can be bothered that is 🙂 )

  19. Hi, I completely agree about food bringing people together, I believe that food is love. I also agree about the dashes, splashes etc I cook that way too! Congratulations on the blogging award!

  20. mmmarzipan says:

    Have I told you that I love your blog? Probably ;). But just in case, I thought I’d let you know that because I do, I have nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award (see http://missmarzipan.com/2012/11/16/very-inspiring-blogger-award-aka-happy-dancing-on-the-inside/). I truly wish you all the best! xx

  21. daisyandthefox says:

    I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award at this link: http://daisyandthefox.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/the-sunshine-awards/

    congratulations! you deserve it! 🙂

  22. aFrankAngle says:

    Gotta love a foodie! … and thanks for visiting my little corner of the world.

  23. Caddie says:

    Hi! I love your blog and have nominated you for a Liebster Award! Please check: http://suckitupnotin.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/i-got-a-liebster-award/

  24. daisyandthefox says:

    I really enjoy your blog and have nominated it for the Liebster award! 🙂

    Liebster Award


    congratulations – you deserve it!

    Daisy and the Fox

  25. Anne says:

    Hi Barb, I nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.
    http://unihomemaker.com/2012/12/05/very-inspiring-blogger-award/

    All the best,
    Anne

  26. mmmarzipan says:

    Hi! Me again! Just stopping by to say I really enjoyed following you in 2012 and have nominated you for a Super Sweet Blogging Award. If you’re interested in accepting, pop by http://missmarzipan.com/2012/12/31/100th-post-today-with-belated-yet-grateful-responses-to-18-award-nominations/ for more details. If not, no worries :)- I gave you a nice shout-out in any case… and I wish you a very happy 2013! xx

  27. Mjollnir says:

    Hi guys. Thanks very much for following my humble efforts and I look forward to doing the same with you. 🙂

  28. Love your blog– I have two girls too but they are grown and out on their own. But occasionally they do wear ponytails! Thanks for the sense of fun and practicality in your recipes!

  29. daisyandthefox says:

    I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award – congratulations! 🙂

    Celebrating the New Year with Blog Awards

    Happy New Year!

    Daisy and the Fox

  30. Darya says:

    I love the dashes and splashes paragraph. I failed to post a recipe today as it was exclusively splashes and approximations (which I didn’t write down), and I wouldn’t be able to make again! And I always admire people who manage to cook, be moms-dads, work full-time, and blog all at once! I am glad I discovered your blog, and am looking forward to reading more of your posts in 2013!

    • I am looking forward to following your blog too! Life is hectic for everyone…so I think that those of us that blog do so because we really enjoy it! I find it keeps me organized and pushes me to constantly try new things, which I might not do otherwise. The good part is that we all have to eat, so it does accomplish two things at once…don’t you find? Here’s to dashes and splashes!

  31. Thanks for following my blog, it helped me find yours, look forward to your future posts – and catching up on those already published! Tracey

  32. Chef Randall says:

    I have nominated you and your blog for the Versatile Blog Award. Follow the link to except: http://savorthefood.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/something-to-proudly-display/

    Chef Randall
    Savorthefood.wordpress.com

  33. Absolutely love your blog!!

  34. lemoncake says:

    Thanks for following my blog 🙂

  35. Dina says:

    Lovely blog! You have the two cutest little Pontails I can think of, the’re gorgeous!
    Greetings to Toronto
    from Bonn, Rhine Valley
    Dina

  36. louslabyrinth says:

    I love your blog and recipes! You and your family are gorgeous 🙂 xoxox

  37. Congratulations, Barb! You have been awarded: Super Sweet Bloggers Award
    I do not expect any action to be taken, or for you to generate a post, unless you wish to pass it on.
    Your blog has been awarded at:
    http://faestwistandtango.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/awards-february-2013/
    Enjoy! 😀 Fae.

  38. Azita says:

    Hi! I like so many things about your blog: the photographs are striking; content is great; you h be the funniest subject headings; and I share your mad passion for collecting plates and vintage dishes . Very happy to find your blog!

    • Thank you so much for your kind comments. Collecting plates and vintage dishes is a wonderful passion, isn’t it? I like that you get to share the dishes with guests and that they remind you of happy memories when you use them. I was happy to find your blog as well!

  39. ohlidia says:

    Love your blog and the name! And I really love the photo of your girls taken from the back, with their ponytails. Thanks for visiting!

  40. Teresa says:

    I’ve recently switched my food blog over to be self-hosted which I hope will make it more user-friendly in the future. As a result, if you were following Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen via email, WordPress, or using RSS feeds through Google Reader or some other way, you are no longer subscribed. If you wish to continue receiving future posts from my blog you will need to re-subscribe. Sorry for the inconvenience, Teresa.

  41. louslabyrinth says:

    Hey, just to let you know I nominated you for a beautiful blogger award 🙂 Find details here: http://louslabyrinth.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/beautiful-blogger-award/
    xoxox

  42. laurasmess says:

    Hello lovely. Just letting you know that I’ve nominated you for the ‘Best Moment’ award on my blog. I didn’t even know it existed til a few days ago… but you immediately came to mind! Thanks again for your beautiful, honest writing. Check out your nomination here: http://laurasmess.me/2013/03/15/awards-and-acknowledgements/

  43. gotasté says:

    I am a big fan of dashes, splashes, handfuls, sprinkles, and glugs too. Great to meet you here 🙂

  44. Erinn @ www.more-sprinkles.com says:

    Hi, I nominated you for a Liebster Award, check out my blog post called “Liebster Award” at http://www.more-sprinkles.com

  45. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I love your blog name. “Profiteroles” is such a great word to say. 🙂

  46. Hi! What a wonderful blog you have here! Thanks a lot for visiting my blog, especially because now I get to follow yours 🙂

  47. Really cute blog name. And really cute girls!

  48. fabliss says:

    Very, very cute blog!

  49. Congratulations Barb! You have been awarded: Versatile Blogger Award
    I do not expect any action to be taken, or for you to generate a post (unless you wish to pass on the award nominations). Nevertheless, your blog has been awarded at:
    http://fae-magazine.com/2013/05/29/awards-may-2013/
    Enjoy the Award! 😀 Fae.

  50. Albertina says:

    Hi! I’m a writer for GourmetFoodStore.com, and we’d like to feature one of your posts on an upcoming article. Is there an email we can use to contact you? Thank you, and your blog is wonderful, Albertina

  51. Hi! I just stumbled across your blog and I’m glad because I already found a few recipes I crave to try! They are original and exciting! Can’t wait to start! If only I didn’t have to work and study, I would just cook and bake and blog about it… Hmm… 🙂

  52. Adorable girls, it’s great to have found your blog!


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