I’ve followed Carol’s blog for some time now. I can’t even remember now how I found it but I’m so glad I did. She has lots of great recipes, amazing photos, info if you’re new to living gf and tons more. Make sure you check out her blog. But since today is Wednesday March 24th make sure you tune into QVC at 4pm
EST and catch Carol sharing her new cookbook. Simply . . . Gluten-free Desserts: 150 Delicious Recipes for Cupcakes, Cookies, Pies, and More Old and New Favorites
I can’t wait to see what she’s wearing. Oh and to get a peak into that cookbook. Can’t wait to get my hands on it and get baking.
Name : Carol Kicinski
Business and or blog name: Simply…Gluten-free
URL: http://simplygluten-free.com/
Location: Florida
Favorite quote: Oh, so many to pick from but I love this by Thomas Edison – “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” I love that it illustrates the important of persinstance along a given path and that failure is often part of success. I learn so much from my failures, more than from my sccesses. I think the trick is to actually learn from mistakes and failures and not give into them, to presist and keep on going.
Focus of blog or business: Gluten-free recipes and tips for living a gluten-free life.
Social Media I play in: Twitter and Facebook.
I started my blog in the month and year: Novemeber, 2007
Training/education I received: Ha! My education has been mostly self taught. Formerly I only finished high school. My sister likes to say I went to collage the first day, couldn’t find a parking spot so I went home. Not sure if that is exactly correct but not far from the truth. I have been hired for jobs I was extremely under qualified for so I had to teach myself. For example, I applied for a job as a bookkeeper but didn’t know any more about bookkeeping than how to balance my checkbook. Astonishingly I was hired. From there I kept getting better jobs, all in the area of finance, eventually ending up as the Controller for a multi-million dollar corporation. Each step of the way I taught myself what I needed to know to do the job. It never once occurred to me that I needed to have something (like a formal education) in order to learn and do something, I just plunged in and figured it out.
My favorite healthy food: This changes by my mood, right now I am loving quinoa and kale.
My favorite snack food: Hummus and raw cauliflower with spicy chili garlic paste mixed in with the hummus – love spicy!
My top 3 healthiest foods I love to eat or recommend: kale, quinoa and flax seed, either oil or meal
Childhood ambition: When I was little my parents took me to see “Annie Get Your Gun” and I wanted to be a cowgirl, then they took me to see “Gone With The Wind” and I wanted to own a planation and run a lumder mill, then they took me to see “Mary Poppins” and I wanted to be a nanny – that is when I realized I wanted to be an actress so I could be it all. I did persue that for a time, I was part of an acting repertoire comapny for several years, did a few commercials, TV shows and movies but somewhere along the line I decided I didn’t have the drive for the business end of it; I loved the work but didn’t like the process of getting the work. When I was in high school I had a home ec project to do and I decided to make a cookbook. I loved working on it. I realized later, when I was working on my first book, that this is what I was really meant to do. I love developing recipes and the process of everything entailed in writing a cookbook.
My favorite cookbook: Oh this is hard! I have literally hundreds of cookbooks. The first cookbook I ever got was on my 8th birthday, it was a childrens cookbook and I loved making things for my family. I guess I would have to say it is my favorite because it instilled in me a passion that continues to this day.
Wildest dream: I am fortunate to have lived out a few of those wild dreams – right now I really want to dive the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Favorite activity: Hosting dinner parties.
Favorite thing to cook: Simple, elegant meals.
Favorite kitchen tool: Kitchen Aid Mixer, Cusinart, microplane graters and sharp knifes.
Biggest risk I’ve taken: Getting out of my vehicle in a game park in Africa and trekking around on foot so I could get better photos – seriuosly risky, seriously stupid but seriously exciting! Oh the things the happened! Just for the record, I do NOT reccommend this to any one!
Favorite exercise: Probably weight lifting, love the instant visual results.
Proudest moment: Giving birth, twice.
What I you do to treat myself: Spa Day!
What I do to feel at peace: I just grab some alone time. Sometimes I just need quiet.
Biggest challenge: Raising children. The biggest challange and the most rewarding.
Favorite vacation spot: Africa.
Craziest thing I’ve ever done: See answer to biggest risk 🙂
Health concerns I’ve cleared up: Migraine headaches, Stage 4 Adrenal Exhaustion, digestive issues. All handled by finding the root cause, gluten, and removing it from my life.
Books I’ve written: Simply…Gluten free Desserts.
I started my blog to: To share the fact that gluten intolerance does not mean a life sentence of horrible food. I learned to celebrate the abundance of a gluten free diet and wanted to share the celebration with others.
What I hope the people that visit my blog find: Inspiration.
Top 3 results people get from visiting my blog: Hopefully they find a world of food open to them, recipes they can use and tweak to suit their own needs and a realization that eating and cooking gluten free does not have to be complicated or limiting.
Products and/or services I offer: Recipes, ideas, links to over 150 gluten-free food bloggers (The Gluten Free Global Community), my pastry quality gluten-free flour, links to gluten-free cookbooks, tips on how to live a full, happy gluten-free life.
What I love about what I do: The community I have found through my site. I have forged real and lasting friendships, I am inspired daily by the people I come in contact with and have found support in so many ways. Starting my blog has lead to so many avenues I never dreamed possible, it truly changed the trajectory of my life.
My greatest success so far: Raising two amazing boys to be incredible, unique individuals and being married to the love of my life since I was 18 with each year getting better and better.
In the future I see myself: I have no idea. I really just want to be the best me I can be. Where that will lead I don’t know right now but I can tell you this – I am excited to find out!
Another great interview–thanks! I just received a copy of Carol's book for review and I am lamenting the fact that I don't use eggs or sugar. It is BEAUTIFUL and looks like it has so many fabulous recipes! Big congratulations to Carol! 🙂
Thanks Ricki! I feel your pain with the no sugar and eggs. Had to lay off the sugar for awhile after writing the book myself 🙂
I love these series, Diane! Great idea! It's so fun to read these "up close and personal" accounts of my favorite bloggers.
Carol – no wonder you're so creative and fresh. No college to mess you up and put you on a specific track! I think we often put too much emphasis on degrees and not enough on "plunging in and figuring it out." You're obviously a "figure it out" girl!
I'm with you on the "sharp knife" as a favorite kitchen tool. A high-end, sharp knife and a big chopping block are my daily tools. Chopping raw beets and broccoli stalks requires a sharp knife. =)
Both of you – keep up the good work! These features are such a nice diversion from the regular blogging fare.
P.S. Can't wait to hear a little more detail about the Africa adventure. I just can't see you out on safari running with (or away from) the lions. Glad you made it back to write cookbooks!
Ha ha – I'm glad I made it back myself 🙂 I love your comment about no college to mess me up 🙂 I can always count on you to put the right spin on things!
Fabulous interview with Carol! I've been following her for years, too. She has always awed me with her incredible recipes, especially desserts, so it's fitting that her first cookbook is a dessert one. And I'm a super lucky girl because I received mine in the mail Monday–woohoo! It is as wonderful as I expected, too. 🙂 Love all of Carol's answers. I didn't know she was a scuba diver, but I did know she was a live life to the fullest kind of gal and I adore her for that! (Carol–Our son went diving on the Great Barrier Reef at age 19. Hubby was and remains super jealous. The latter's scuba travels have not taken him there yet.)
xo to Carol and you, Diane, for this terrific series!
Shirley
I really didn't know much about Carol beyond her blog, so this was really fun to read! She is a definite go-getter, which is awesome.
I'll miss her on QVC, but hope she does awesome! I've tweeted it and spread the word!
I am loving this series. It is wonderful getting to know your favorite bloggers more. Thank you Diane! 🙂
Diane, thank you so much! I've never been a rock star of anything 🙂 Shirley – you can add me to the list of people who are jealous of your son! Man, I need to get moving and get my scuba diving self to Australia!
I know I've said it before, Diane, but you know the coolest women. Wait a minute–so do I. This little gluten-free blogging community is full of the smartest, funniest, most creative, passionate women. This is such a great way to introduce them to the world. Yay for Carol and her QVC appearance yesterday.
Great interview. I received Carol's book for review recently and am loving reading through it 🙂
Wow you really rock Carol! Lol. Great interview also. I love reading your blog. Sharing everything about gluten intolerance and living with gluten – free. You should continue rocking Carol and encourage people with or without gluten intolerance.
oh thanks so much!