Meet the Neighbors with Rachel Pounds
Happy Monday! I really enjoy Mondays, because I always get to introduce a new food blogger to you! 🙂 Today’s lovely food blogger is Rachel Pounds, who blogs over at By the Pounds. I was immediately taken by Rachel’s sweet and encouraging spirit, as well as by her imaginative recipes and desire to use up ingredients that are sometimes wasted in the kitchen. I love to use up all parts of my ingredients, too, so I knew instantly that I had met a kindred “blogging spirit.” 🙂
You can find more about Rachel’s delicious recipes on her blog, as well as on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.
What are we waiting for? Let’s meet her! 🙂
What is your name, and where are you located? (Hint: if you live in Hawaii, I am packing my bags as we speak 😉
My name is Rachel Pounds, and I live in Bothell, WA which is near Seattle.
Tell us a little bit about yourself– what is the name of your blog, and how did you get started?
My blog is called By the Pounds, and I started in April. I actually just celebrated my 100th post, which is hard to believe! My husband and I have friends over quite a bit, and I started baking and cooking more because of that. For awhile my husband and I contemplated starting a marshmallow and granola business, but I have Lupus, and it seemed like too much at the time. The blog was a good alternative and has been so much fun! I wanted my blog to be a place where I could encourage people to get over their fears of cooking and baking and have a little fun in the process. I wanted to share my passions which are flavorful food, strong drinks, and good books.
What is your favorite food? And what is your least favorite food?
That’s a tough one. Honestly, if it’s a baked good it’s got my name on it. I’m willing to try almost anything when it comes to food, but I have to say that my least favorite food is bell peppers. I wish I liked them because they come in so many great colors and are a meaty, substantial veggie, but I just can’t stand the taste!
What advice would you give someone who is just starting to cook?
Be organized. To me that means everything from making a meal plan for the week (which I talk about on my blog) to prepping everything before cooking (mise en place if you’re fancy). Get everything chopped, diced, and measured, and I promise it will be less stressful. I sometimes forget to do that, and I end up running around like a mad woman!
What keeps you going, every day? Who are your greatest cheerleaders/supporters?
I have a wonderful and supportive husband who is my biggest fan and editor (thank goodness!). He is the reason I have the confidence to do this. My close friend Betsy has also been such a great cheerleader and is a blogger herself. They have both been so amazing and motivate me to do the best that I can.
Rachel was kind enough to share with us her recipe for Green Tomato and Apple Pie. Rachel says:
“I am choosing this one because I feel like it’s something unique. I pride myself on thinking of tasty and interesting flavor combinations, and this recipe really shows that. I also think it’s an ingenious way to use up the last of the unripened tomatoes of the season.”
Rachel, thank you so much for sharing a little bit of your story and your unique and beautiful recipes with us. We can’t wait to see more and look forward to following your cooking journey! 🙂
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which just means that we get a few pennies if you purchase through our link. I never recommend products that I don't personally use and love. Thanks!
