Delicooks

> www.recipespicbypic.blogspot.com

When and how did you get into cooking?
I was already married, so it was only around 7 or 8 years ago. I was interested in doing something a little out of the ordinary. And my husband encouraged me to start the blog Spanish Recipes.

Because he knew how well you cooked?
Well, of course, what else is a husband going to say ... (laughs). Yes, he said that I was a great cook, and as my daughter got older, she's now 13, and I had more free time, I started doing the blog while she was away at summer camp. I was a bit down, missing her ... It will be three years in June.

Do you think it strange that you started to like cooking even though it was, in a sense, an obligation?
No, I've always liked cooking. But I can't really tell you why I started experimenting with new dishes. Maybe I got bored with the usual dishes and wanted to try out new things.

Where do you get your ideas for new dishes? Is it just pure creativity?
Some dishes are the result of pure creativity and then there are others that I get from magazines or books ... I don't usually copy them because that seems very unethical, but what I do is, I combine ideas from different ones. But in Spanish cuisine, everything has already been invented: if you make a paella, it's still a paella. You can vary it a little, but it's still the same thing.

In the recipes on your blog, how many are new and how many are traditional?
They are all very much based on tradition. However, just as in every house, every cook brings a personal touch, changing an ingredient or lengthening or shortening some cooking times ... So, there are endless variations.

Núria, you're very Catalan, so why do you blog? in English?
Because people here are already familiar with all these recipes. So Idecided to teach outsiders, those unfamiliar with Spanish cuisine. And, of course, English is the logical language for that. So I brushed up on my school English, which I had forgotten somewhat!

Were you afraid of doing it in English or did you have a good command of the language?
My English was good enough – and when you're writing you don't get as tongue-tied as you might if you were talking to a person face to face. The blog gives me the freedom to say what I think. It's not that I become a different person when I'm blogging. It's still me – but a more confident version of me!

Núria, how many fans does your blog have?
The number goes up and down, and there are many ways to measure users. Broadly speaking I have over 600 subscribers, more than 130 "followers" and an average of ten thousand plus visits per month.

And to what do you attribute the success of the blog?
The many hours I spend there working. Because, ultimately, blogging ends up being a job. You have to keep improving recipes, adding photos, and leaving comments: it's crucial to post comments on other blogs to start attracting people. Maybe the point is that there are many readers from the U.S., and of course, this blog must seem like something new and different for them.

Do you spend all day on the computer?
Well, yes, between the computer, cooking, and taking photos.

So you take all your own photos? Did you study photography?
Yes, I do and no, I never studied photography. In fact, if you look at the beginning of the blog you'll see what a difference! ... You'd think someone else had taken the early photos. But I've been experimenting and getting better. And the great thing about digital photography is that you can you can take as many photos as you like ...

Núria, do you always make delicious food at home?
Yes, of course! Sometimes some dishes don't work out but I don't blog about those. Or if I do, it's so that others might learn from my mistakes.

Any advice for someone starting out in the kitchen?
First, patience. I remember when I started out cooking, I'd take half-roasted chickens out of the oven. It was horrible, inedible, disgusting. So first, be patient. And then perhaps give it a bit of love ... and pleasure, because it is a pleasure to eat well. I love to please others through my food, to seduce them with my dishes.

Does a cook or chef always have to love food?
Of course, you can't cook if you don't like eating.

What's never missing from your kitchen?
Rice, oil and salt, of course. Also pasta. I always have fresh vegetables in the fridge. Also, onions, garlic, and tomatoes.

You're not a huge fan of desserts, are you?
No, I'm not into desserts really.

Any final comment?
Just for people who want to start a blog: anyone can do it.  If you have the basics, if you like cooking you'll love it and you'll meet some great people. Also the food world is a world of good vibes, with lovely people. Everything is very positive.