Name: Alicia Johnston
Age: 23
Location: Chicago, IL
Online homes: Humble Foodie Blog // Twitter // Facebook //
Favorite Karina dress: I love the neckline on the Lauren 3/4 sleeve dress.
What are your every day, must-reads, online or off?
I’m a reading tutor, so I’m usually juggling 8-10 books for work and pleasure. I follow some fantastic blogs, like Things My Belly Likes, Leaner by the Lake, and Holly Would If She Could. Twitter is great for skimming headlines every so often.
You cook A LOT. Are there any kitchen short cuts you employ that we should know about?
Leftovers are a lifesaver when you don’t have much time to cook. I make meals to serve four even when I’m only cooking for myself. If you get bored eating the same thing, cook a simple dish like ground beef with basic seasonings, then turn it into a few different meals: a pasta dish, a stir fry with vegetables, and lettuce wraps or tacos.
When I know the week will be busy, I spend an hour prepping and cooking on Sunday: I chop vegetables, cook a roast, and make an egg dish for breakfasts. Then I put everything in containers for lunch or breakfast on the go and supplement with fruit, salads, and treats throughout the week.
What’s your go-to recipe these days?
It’s hard to pick just one, so I’ll go with a method instead: butterflied, or spatchcocked, roast chicken. It’s way easier than it might sound. This method makes amazing, juicy roast chicken in <1 hour. For seasonings, you could try:
- 2 tbsp butter + rosemary + sage
- 2 tbsp olive oil + 1 tbsp lemon juice + black and white peppers
- 2 tbsp oil of choice + 1 tbsp paprika + 1 tbsp powdered sumac + 1 tsp cayenne pepper
If you could give your 16 year old self advice, what would you say?
Focus on health, embrace your body, and dress to flatter it rather than hide it…and please, please throw away that spiked choker!
Your perfect day. What would it look like?
I would wake up in a tent with friends on a mountain somewhere and watch the sunrise. After making coffee and cinnamon spicecakes over a fire, we’d pack up and spend the day exploring. We’d end the day with kebabs, good wine, and stories by firelight and fireflies.