How To Cook Ani From Vkusnoteka: Children's Day Begins With A Bowl Of Fruit Salad With Yogurt And Tahini - Recipe

Today we introduce you to another culinary blogger - Ani, the creator of "Vkusnoteka". We can say that Ani is very inspiring, she can tell stories, and a person who can paint real pictures with words cannot help but create beauties on his plate. See what Annie told us, who she is, what she does and what is ahead of "Vkusnoteka".

Hello, Annie! Tell us more about you, what do you do outside of cooking?

My family and I are representatives of the luxury, Swiss brand Rolex in Bulgaria. I grew up in a watchmaking family and the passion for watches passed on to me.

Since when do you cook and how did you become passionate about cooking?

As a child, I was constantly around my grandmother, who took care of us while Mom and Dad were at work. She was a great cook. I have imprinted pictures in my mind of how we roll a pie together with her and make my favorite Armenian sweets.

In the later years when I got married, I remember sitting at my mother's notebook and asking her to tell me some basic recipes so I could cook for my husband. Then the experiments began. Especially when my first daughter, Aida, was born. I did not use a children's kitchen. I cooked for her every day and found it extremely enjoyable. My interest gradually increased when I started following some current blogs. I was inspired and started boldly trying new flavor combinations. I created "Vkusnoteka" in 2010 and so to this day, 8 years later I am waiting for my first cookbook.

I notice that you often prepare healthy recipes. Is this your diet and how important is proper nutrition for a person's health?

Everything you see on the blog as recipes is what my family eats. I do not prepare cakes, mekis and pasta, I rarely fry (only when I prepare recipes from Armenian cuisine), I cook many seasonal soups, salads, beans, meat and fish. I choose our food. This includes, for example, always choosing the meat to mince myself. So I'm sure there are no "enhancers" in it. Children's day begins with a bowl of fruit salad with yogurt and tahini.

We are what we eat, and as a mother of two young children, I feel responsible not only for their health, but also for our health, so that we can be together longer.

Do you think that it is difficult for a working woman to take care of providing useful food for her family? What advice can you give to be more organized in the kitchen?

Of course, it is difficult, but I firmly believe that it is much more useful and financially profitable to serve our family home-cooked, hot food than one of obscure origin, in a cardboard box from a nearby restaurant. We can help each other by being more organized. Personally, I prepare a weekly menu during the weekend. I don't think about what to cook every night. We do a big market on Sunday and I buy everything I need. I focus on faster weekly meals. You can find inspiration for them in Vkusnoteka. And I prepare the more time-consuming ones on Saturday and Sunday. You can also make some preparations to help yourself - such as cooking the chicken from the day before, so that it is ready for soup and roast chicken, or kneading your minced meat and coming home from work just to shape the meatballs and bake them, or wrap wraps.

We often justify with our national cuisine that it is not healthy enough. What do you think, is Bulgarian cuisine healthy?

Definitely not one of the healthiest kitchens. I think that only the French can boast of such a thing. But that doesn't stop us from choosing the foods we offer our family. For example, when serving pancakes, let them be banana-coconut , not traditional with flour.

What do you prepare most often for your family, what are your favorite family dishes?

Some of the most common dishes cooked at home are my children's favorites - a large meatball with egg and cheese topping, stuffed peppers with minced meat and tomato sauce, zucchini and cheese gratin , red lentil soup with curry and coconut milk, roasted eggplant with minced meat and tomatoes, roasted fish (at least twice a week) and tortellini.

The blog meters ozh em can find many recipes from all over the world. Do you travel often and what is your favorite cuisine?

I love to travel as much as my work and personal commitments allow. I try local cuisines and then I definitely experiment at home. I am biased and I like Mediterranean and Armenian cuisine the most.

In cooking, as in anything, there are different trends and fashions. Are you influenced by what is fashionable to cook with?

I am interested in the news. I also follow all culinary shows and reality formats. I read foreign and Bulgarian blogs and books. I don't like extremes and I try to cook and eat a variety.

What is the secret to the perfect dish?

The perfect dish contains many different spices and flavors that build on your palate and step by step build an explosive taste that makes you want more and more and sigh after each bite. This is what makes Michelin-starred restaurants different - the experience your food brings.