Meet our member of the month, Steph Nienaber,
the talented blogger behind Sconemasters.
What was you original motivation for your blog? What keeps you motivated?
“Originally, the blog was intended to ‘share the joys of good baking with good people,’ more elaborately described in the first paragraph of this post. Over time it’s morphed into a diary of life as a 20 something, told through the recipes and experiences in food, intermingled with the people and places that inspired or shared them.”
“Ice cream or gelato. Whenever my husband is traveling (and I’m not being asked to cook a real dinner by anyone), it is the one meal I eat 🙂 I think the Whole Foods brand gelato is incredible, and a relatively little know gem.”
What has been your biggest cooking disaster?
“When I was in college I used to bake with a priest, Father Joe Carey, a wonderfully sweet and wise old man. Every Sunday for a summer we would pick a recipe and bake a different type of cake. He had no baking knowledge and acted as my sous chef, learning culinary techniques from me, and at the same time teaching me his wisdom on life. Once a recipe called for ‘4 eggs, separated.’ Of course the recipe meant separated into yolks and whites (the yolks used in the cake and the whites in the meringue frosting). When we got to making the frosting I asked him where the other parts of the eggs were, and he told me he added all 4 to the cake batter: ‘One, then I paused, then the second, pause, third, pause, fourth, pause. 4 eggs, separated.’ Always sweet and endearing, I couldn’t help but laugh as we started the cake over. Not really a disaster, but one of my favorite memories of a baking mishap.”
May means it’s the season for rhubarbs, green beens, peas and many other kinds of delicious produce. Which one are you most looking forward to?
“Ramps!! Always love ramp risotto when it’s May.”
What’s your ideal Mother’s Day celebration?
“This will be my first mother’s day as a mom!! Hoping the weather will be wonderful enough to enjoy brunch outside at Heritage Tavern with my little 7 month old gem.”