Meet the Neighbors with Sarah Jafri Mir
It’s hard to believe, but this is the last interview on the Meet the Neighbors series! Well . . . the last interview for a while. I may bring this feature back in the future, at some point, but for now I figured right around the sweet Christmas time would be a good place to end– on a high note! 🙂
Today’s featured food blogger is the sweet and talented Sarah Jafri Mir, who blogs over at Flour and Spice Blog. She is a Pakistani Canadian wife and Mommy who specializes in beautiful food that is accessible and easy for anyone to make. Her writing style is sweet and heartwarming, with a dash of humor that makes her articles a joy to read. I really enjoyed learning more about traditional Pakistani food, and I can’t wait to try some of the recipes! You can find more of Sarah’s sweet work on Instagram @flourandspiceblog, Pinterest & Twitter @flourandspice, and Facebook.
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 😉
Hi everyone! My name is Sarah and I live in Toronto, which you should totally visit even though it is not Hawaii, because there are tons of awesome people and things to do here!
Tell us a little bit about yourself– what is the name of your blog, and how did you get started?
My blog is called Flour & Spice, and its tagline– “Baker by Birth, Cook by Circumstance”– sums up both who I am and why I started blogging. After eating nothing but home cooked food for most of my life I found myself living in Toronto, unsure of how to make the things that my mother made with such ease. The recipes that I had were loose approximations with no explanation of technique, and it took me quite some time to figure it all out! A few years back I decided to share what I was learning with others like me who yearned to master simple ‘ghar ka khana’ or the home cooked food that only mamas, not Pakistani restaurants, make. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t generously sprinkle in some sweet delicious bakes, and so you’ll find lots of those on my blog as well!
What is your favorite food? And what is your least favorite food?
A simple daal (lentils) the way my mother makes it– generously ladled over some steaming rice. Pure bliss. Also anything chocolate (duh!). Least favourite food– instant oatmeal, something about the texture…
What advice would you give someone who is just starting to cook?
Be brave. Cooking can be so intimidating sometimes. Watch videos if you need to. READ instructions properly! Softening an onion and caramelizing an onion result in vastly different flavors; whipping butter and sugar for five minutes will create a very different cookie than a 60-second mix, and so on and so forth. Most of all be kind to yourself and encourage those around you to temper their feedback with the same kindness!
What keeps you going, every day? Who are your greatest cheerleaders/supporters?
My readers. It sounds corny, but every now and then, as a busy mother, I question continuing to blog. The Universe listens in on these thoughts I think, because seemingly out of nowhere I will get emails, messages, etc, from people who’ve cooked from the blog and say things which are simultaneously flattering and humbling, and I put those thoughts away and go on. There is absolutely nothing like the warm fuzzies I get when someone writes in and says that they’ve finally been able to capture the taste of home!
Sarah was kind enough to share with us her recipe for Kid-Friendly Chicken Pulao. I have never had Pulao before, but after reading through this recipe I can’t wait to try it! Sarah says:
“This is a weeknight go to for me and one my kids love! Thanks so much for the feature!”
Sarah, it has been a pleasure having you here today! We are hungry for more delicious recipes and can’t wait to read more of your blog entries! Thanks for spending some time with us here on Cookies for England! 🙂
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!
Another good one! Thanks, Emilie, for doing this.
I have really enjoyed it! 😀