Food Blogger Interview: Lori Yates of FoxesLoveLemons

We always love hearing the thoughts behind those wonderful recipes and food photography from Dishfolio's food bloggers, that's why we love interviewing them! There's always something new we learn from each conversation. Today we have Lori Yates from FoxesLoveLemons, a food blog with original recipes, kitchen advice, tips from culinary school, product reviews and Detroit restaurant reviews, sharing her time with us!

Tell us about your food blogging goals: What are they? How are you accomplishing them?

My main goal is to get people into their kitchens and cooking at home more often. Many people, especially people around my age (in their 20's and 30's) think that they don't know how to cook or don't have time. I've found that if you teach people some basic kitchen skills, and show them a few shortcuts to creating faster meals, they'll discover that they CAN cook at home!

Of innovative cooking ingredients you've tried, which was the hardest to find or use?

I bought a jar of kimchi on a whim last year, and then was too scared to use it for several months. After getting past the initial, funky-awful smell when I first opened the jar, I discovered that it was delicious in fried rice.

Who is your foodie hero and how do they inspire you?

Michael Symon - he's proving that you don't have to live in NYC, L.A. or Chicago to be an innovative chef. I love his philosophy of nose-to-tail cooking, as well as making special meals out of affordable ingredients. Also, I've never had a single less-than-amazing dish at his Detroit restaurant, Roast. It's my "last meal" restaurant, for sure.

What ethical food issues get you talking with your friends and family?

It will always be buying local, although I feel like that's old hat for most people now. Years ago, I would sort of friendly harass people to choose the local Michigan products over the national ones. We're lucky to have a ton of great food producers and growers in this state - if you're wiling to put in the effort, you can shop at least 80% of your grocery list locally.

Describe your all-time favorite recipe.

It would have to be my Guacamole Rice. On a whim, I cooked some rice, and then mashed all of the ingredients of a traditional guacamole into it. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but figured I had nothing to lose. And it was really great. It's vegan, it can be eaten warm, cold, or room temperature, is great to take to parties, and lasts (and stays green!) a couple of days in the fridge.

What's the best food photography tip you've learned in the past year?

Always, always, always shoot in natural light. It's sometimes hard to fit it in, especially during the winter when the days are shorter. But, I've tried rigging up some artificial lighting setups, and it's just NEVER the same as natural light. Put your food by a window on a somewhat cloudy but bright day, and shoot away.

How many cookbooks do you own and which do you reach for most often?

I actually own very few, because I have limited kitchen storage space. In my dream kitchen, I'll have a huge bookcase just full of cookbooks. The one I reach for most often is "Martha Stewart's Cooking School" - it was my $30 culinary school before I REALLY decided to go to culinary school. If you need to know how to cook just about anything, it's in this book, and the method for it is absolutely perfect.

If you had to choose a kitchen tool you couldn't live without, what would it be and why?

A Microplane. I hate wasting the free flavor from citrus fruits. Whenever I'm using lemon or lime juice in a recipe, I always grate some of the zest in, too. Why not? It's free! I reach for my Microplane almost every day, whether it's for citrus zest, fresh ginger, or grating cheese.

What's next? How will you make yours the best food blog in town?

I'm just gonna keep on keepin' on! My goal is to publish 3 original recipes per week, but some weeks it may be 4. I want to keep proving to people that you can make healthy, simple, yet special meals at home, in less time than it would take you to go out to a restaurant - and for much less money, too!

Thai Curry Chicken Noodle Soup

Thai Curry Chicken Noodle Soup (Khao Soi) - surprisingly easy to make, and huge flavor!

by foxeslovelemons

Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

Grilled Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa - slightly spicy grilled pork with a sweet and savory pineapple salsa. The perfect summer meal!

by foxeslovelemons