Global Cuisine : An Interview with Bizymoms Top Blogger 2010 Recipient Jaden Hair

Global Cuisine

Jaden Hair is a television chef, food columnist and award-winning food blogger at Steamy Kitchen. You can watch her cook twice a month on Daytime Show, syndicated in 120 markets. Jaden is a food columnist for Discovery’s TLC and for Tampa Tribune, and a cookbook author of The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook, which launched Fall 2009. With over 47,000 followers, Jaden is one of the most influential people in food on Twitter. She has been featured on the Today Show, CBS Early Show, Martha Stewart Living Radio, Oprah.com, and Parents Magazine. Jaden was recently named one of the hottest women in food and also one of the best food bloggers on Forbes.com.

1. What helped you to become an expert in Asian cooking recipes?

I grew up with Asian food - my mom was a housewife and she cooked a beautiful family meal every single night.

2. Did you have to learn anything new as you made your change to global cuisine from Asian cooking?

It was incredibly freeing to open up my blog to more than just Asian - I love exploring different flavors, spices and cuisines of the world. I take my inspiration from other bloggers, cookbooks, magazines, and even a trip to the market. Every morning, I head over to a market and just wander, picking up ingredients here and there, creating recipes in my mind, doubling back to a section to switch out ingredients based on ideas.

My local supermarket knows me by now - they used to think I was strange, but I finally told them that I was a recipe developer and now they understand!

3. What is the secret behind your delicious Asian and global cuisine recipes?

All of my recipes are fast, fresh and simple enough for tonight's dinner.I've got two little boys who are constantly hungry, so the recipes have to be fast, otherwise they'll help themselves to the cookie jar. I'm all about fresh produce - my CSA delivery keeps me full of new ingredients to play with. And if the recipes aren't simple enough for tonight's dinner - who would make them!?

4. How do you inspire your kids to eat healthy?

I give my kids the job of making the salad for dinner every night - they get to choose the ingredients, prep, assemble, and toss. We've got lots of kid-friendly prep tools and they love taking on the responsibility of that part of the meal. The beautiful benefit is that they LOVE salad (and if us adults don't eat all of our salad, the boys get mad and scold us!)

5. What are the most important factors for successful food photography?

I think natural light is the most important factor for a great food photo.I can have even the most simplest dish, and natural light just bathes and makes the ingredients glow. I believe in making food look so good that you just are inspired to eat it!