Hi, I’m Erica Schramek.
I am a self-taught home cook and the writer, recipe developer, food stylist, and photographer behind this blog.
My Cooking Journey
I started baking and cooking early, thanks to a supportive family.
Baking cookies together with my mom and experimenting in my aunt's kitchen are some of my favorite childhood memories.
My aunt's kitchen was my culinary playground. She never said no to any of my cooking whims. There we would experiment and whip up everything from soft pretzels and tender homeade meatballs to homemade brittle candy and even whiskey fudge.
I'm no stranger to cooking for a crowd. I prepared two large roasters full of two different types of chili for my son's baptism and baked 200 fresh raspberry cupcakes for my cousin's graduation.
Every other year my extended family gathers to make and can massive quantities of apple butter—a laborious yet rewarding process of tirelessly stirring a mixture of apples, apple juice, sugar, and spices together with a wooden paddle in a large copper kettle over a crackling fire, patiently awaiting the perfect thickness for canning.
My husband's family also gathers biennially to cook two large copper kettles full of turtle mulligan as a fundraiser for our local food pantry.
My husband and I after 16 years together finally decided to make things official and married this past January 2023. We even made our own wedding cakes; angel food cake with whipped cream, pomegranate arils, and orange slices for me and tiramisu for him.
Always Learning
I love reading cookbooks and experimenting in the kitchen. My bedside table is stacked with cookbooks. I read them like others read novels.
Some of my favorites are Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz, Everyday Cook by Alton Brown, New Cook Book from Better Homes and Gardens, and Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat.
I am constantly expanding my culinary knowledge by reading other food blogs, listening to podcasts, reading books, and watching TV shows, and YouTube videos about cooking.
I want to learn as much as I can and practice new techniques so that I can share them with you.
What You'll Find Here
I love helping others discover their love for food, just like I have. I'm all about cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Some of my recipes are quick and easy, while others require a little extra love and effort.
- Reliable, thoroughly tested recipes for a variety of family-friendly treats and meals. Like these Panera blueberry muffins which I tested and remade six times to make sure they were perfect.
- Plenty of step-by-step process shots showing each step of a recipe so you never have to wonder if you are on the right track. Along with plenty of tips and tricks as well as substitutions.
- Lots of sourdough recipes. Like many others, I dove into sourdough baking during the pandemic. I grew my own starter and learned that I enjoy creating sourdough discard recipes just as much as baking sourdough bread.
- I love pretty much all kinds of food, but don't always have the budget to eat out as much as I would like to. My solution is to recreate some of my favorite restaurant recipes like vanilla creme brulee and these Panera Lemon Drop Cookies and then share them with you.
More About Erica and Raspberries and Kohlrabi
I created Raspberries and Kohlrabi in the spring of 2019 just after my son turned one. I was finding my way out of the new parent haze and realized my life had become about caring for him and my day job as a graphic designer.
I needed something that was just for me. A way to reconnect with one of my passions. I have been an avid reader of food blogs since the beginning of the internet and have always admired the people behind them.
One day I decided why not me too. I love cooking, photography, and sharing food with others. Creating my own food blog would give me my own little space on the internet to share my favorite recipes.
The blog name Raspberries and Kohlrabi pays homage to my grandmother. She was a constant source of unwavering support. She always believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself.
Raspberries and kohlrabi were two of her favorite foods.
Sadly, she lost her battle with cancer a few years ago, and in her final days, she lost her appetite. She mentioned that food didn't taste the same anymore.
I felt helpless as I watched her fade away and needed one final way to show her how much she meant to me.
Every time I visited her in the hospital, I brought her favorite dishes, going to great lengths to find elusive kohlrabi, even when it was out of season.
When deciding on a name for this blog I chose a name that would remind me of her and her belief that I could be successful and follow my dreams.
My Favorite Recipes
Here are a few of my absolute favorite recipes. I even made 200 of these Chocolate Chip Caramel Pecan Cookies to give away as favors at my wedding.
Let's dive into the world of food, share stories, and create unforgettable culinary experiences together. I'm so glad you're here!
P.S. Now that you know a little about me I would love to hear from you. What are you struggling with in the kitchen? Are there ingredients you don't understand how to use? What are your favorite dishes?
Or email me at [email protected]. I will try to get back to you ASAP.
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