cook on a whim

In 2013, when I started this blog I really had no idea what I was getting myself into; I just wanted to write, and so many of my friends and family members were requesting recipes that it seemed like the perfect place to combine my foodie self and my literary self.

The name “cook on a whim” was inspired by the very real fact that I am a creative home cook who is known for whipping things up “on a whim.” I am not a meal planner. I am a wizard with leftovers and many meals are created last minute based on what I have in my pantry or fridge—and based on what I feel like eating. My appetite for food, cooking, and all things culinary was inspired early on by my father and has never stopped growing. With a strong French influence, my meals are simple, classic, and unique. I love baking sweet treats, too. Especially on snow days.

A Virginia girl at heart, I have traveled coast to coast, as well as visited far off lands including Dubai, Afghanistan, Turkey, and St. Lucia. I find inspiration everywhere I go and love bringing new ideas home to my kitchen.

I was raised on a 75-acre farm with three older brothers, a younger sister and brother, and lots of animals.  In December, 2014 I graduated with honors from George Mason University, where I majored in English, minored in History, and loved every minute. The magnitude and significance of this is that I never graduated high school—something I was ashamed of for the longest time and something only a very small handful of people know. My family basically exploded my senior year, and I was emotionally abandoned. Thank goodness for my grandparents is all I have to say about that. So, when I finally decided I was ready to erase that terrible year, I went for it. Nothing like throwing a little Summa Cum Laude at your past to make yourself feel validated. I am so proud of my accomplishment—I did it. All by myself with lots of cheerleaders, including my friends, family, and kids. Being the best mother I can be to my kids and receiving my Bachelor’s degree are two things I did not learn from my childhood, two things nobody taught me how to do, and two things that nobody can ever take away from me.

After surviving several years in suburbia (never again) and a failed marriage, I am now living in the country again, married to the love of my life, raising our 5 kids together (blended family—my 2 plus his 3), chasing after our 5 maniac dogs: 3 french bulldogs, one english bulldog, and a miniature schnauzer, gardening, cooking, and loving. I never knew I could be so happy. We are planning on getting chickens and maybe goats; I’ll keep you posted.

I have been featured on The Feed Feed, as well as written several articles for a D.C. based online food magazine, DCfud, freelanced for The Fauquier Times-Democrat newspaper and guest-blogged for BeFunky.com in Portland, Oregon.

I look forward to sharing my food adventures, childhood memories, travels, and kitchen experiences with you all.

Email me anytime at anita@cookonawhim.com and I’d love if you’d connect with me on the following channels:

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1990. A little 8-year-old wild-haired farm girl.