I was very excited to participate in Adopt A Blogger #3 this time around.

Kristen over at  Dine and Dish is the proud Mamma of Adopt a Blogger. She does a fantastic job of matching up newbie food bloggers with food blogging veterans in a fantastic mentoring program.

My adoptee this time around is Kat from over at Kat’s Kitchen Place.

(Click on the screenshot below to visit Kat)

Kristen did a great job at matching me up with Kat.

We are both two very busy ladies with several projects going at once and never enough hours in our days. We both started our food blogs because of our love for our families. Kat started blogging to gather all of her Mother’s cookie recipes together. I started food blogging to get back to simple and basic cooking like my Grandmother always cooked.

I’ve been wanting to do an interview with Kat ever since I’ve gotten to know her. However it has not been as easy task for either of us to sit down for a few minutes and concentrate. Shortly after being matched up together for Adopt a Blogger life got in the way for both of us. Kat undertook a huge yard work project and I started my own business. There is something to be said about busy women…we can just pick up where we left off. So, here we are 2 months later and we finally had time to sit down and do a little interview. So, please let me introduce you to my adoptee from Adopt a Blogger #3

What was the moment or turning point that made you start a food blog?

I started my first blog (http://kateschristmascookies.blogspot.com) the year after my Mom passed away in an attempt to chronicle my journey of following in my Mom’s footsteps of making Christmas cookies.  I did not tell too many people about it nor did I continue once the task was completed.  My current blog (Kat’s Kitchen Place) came about in December of 2008.  Starting a regular blog had been on my list of things to do.  I had just finished the Christmas Cookie trays and my young neighbor who is battling leukemia asked for some of the recipes.  I figured instead of writing them all out now was the time to start the blog and to have them in one place.  Hence, Kat’s Kitchen Place was born

Tell my readers a little about yourself.

I am married and live in the suburbs of Boston.  My husband and I do not have any children.  We struggled with infertility for many years and decided that after 4 years of many losses it was time to move forward.  My food blog has been a wonderful way for me to channel positive energy to baking ,cooking, and photography.  Also, we have an 11 year old kitty who rules the house.  I work full time for a financial services company and really like my job.

Where do your inspirations come from?

I do not have one particular place.  I love trying recipes from magazines, food blogs, and newspapers.  I have my Mom’s recipe boxes and one thing I want to do is starting making the recipes in their.

If you could only own one cookbook for the rest of your life, which book would it be?

I know it sounds crazy, but I am not a huge cookbook person.  I did recently purchase the Joy of Cooking, though.

Do you have any other hobbies besides cooking and blogging?

Gardening, photography, and  I just started running.  I am going to run the Race for the Cure in Boston in September.   Three years ago I walked the Breast Cancer 3 day.  It was 60 miles of sweat and tears and was one of the most wonderful events I did.  I wanted to start running so decided I would set a goal for a 5k and also make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

What is the one item in your kitchen that you can’t live without?

Just one???  It’s a tie between my favorite knife, my Southern Living cookie sheets, and my kitchenaid mixer.  You asked for one, though, so I would have to say the cookie sheets

Tell us about your signature dish.

My current signature dish is stuffed peppers.  It’s not your Mother’s stuffed peppers recipe!  I use red bell peppers, ground turkey, diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, ground mustard, thyme, cinnamon and allspice.  I add hominy and grilled corn and then stuff the peppers and top with shaved parmesan.  I don’t take full credit for the spice combo as I came across a recipe and then tweaked it to my taste.

What made you decide to sign up for adopt a blogger?

All that I have done to date on my blog has been self taught.  I thought it would be great to team up with someone who could provide some guidance and support as I build my blog out.

What words of wisdom could you give someone that wanted to start a food blog tomorrow?

Go for it!  Take some time to browse the web and look at other food blogs.  Get some ideas of what features you like.  There are some templates out there that can get you started.  Take some time, though, to initially plan out your content and build from there.  I use blogspot and I find it very easy to use.

Where do you see your food blog in 2 years?

Oh, I have so many things I want to do to my blog that I need to start setting goals in order to make the time!!  In two years, though, I would like to have a loyal following and have my blog a regular place that foodies go to check out my recipes!

Thanks for taking a few minutes to sit down and chat with me Kat! I’ve been very lucky and proud to have you as my adoptee in Adopt a Blogger #3. I know that you are going to do great things with Kat’s Kitchen Place!