I know that eating healthy has been important my whole life. And up until recently, I thought that meant pre-portioned, packaged 100-calorie packs of processed foods. I thought it meant eating only 1,200 calories in a day – even if that meant all of it was fruit roll-ups and hot dogs (don’t ask). Several months ago, I was having a conversation with my boss and my co-worker and fellow blogger Meagan. Having a side cake business, I was asking about the best vanilla I could get for my dollar (or my penny in this case). My boss asked, “Well what kind of vanilla do you use now?” I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I dunno. I think the brand is vanillin.” Both Meagan and my boss looked at me with disgust, and their eyes were shooting daggers. They proceeded to tell me how it was a synthetic form of vanilla and a by-product of wood pulp…definitely not the real thing (although vanillin is present in natural vanilla in very small amounts). At that moment of disbelief, I had an epiphany. When it came to your body, and your health, saving money should not be at the forefront of your mind. It’s vital to get fresh, REAL ingredients, even if that meant spending a little more. Sure I could sell a cupcake made with a solution from wood pulp, but what good is that going to do anyone? From then on, I swore off vanillin – and am working on getting rid of the rest.
My name’s Kyrie. I’ve grown up with a passion for food, and this passion has led me to make a career out of what I love to do (and eat). I grew up baking a lot and pissing my mom off for making so many messes in the kitchen. Once I realized I could put X amount of ingredients in a bowl and bake it for Y minutes and make Z to the 10th power people happy – I was sold. My passion for baking didn’t actually take hold of me until my junior year of college at the University of Oregon when I got a job at the campus bakery. Since then, I have worked at a few other bakeries to finally settle at Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods in Milwaukie, Oregon with a side business that I haphazardly run out of my apartment that I share with my boyfriend (god bless him). I have a thirst for knowledge in all things healthy in my quest to treat my body with the respect it deserves. I still have a long way to go, and often annoy others with my questions about eating healthy.
In addition to learning how to eat healthy, I also love to write. I’ve had numerous blogs: http://cakenbake.blogspot.com, http://pastelcakeandpastry.blogspot.com, http://kyriejuchemich.blogspot.com and stretching as far back into the archives as I can reach: http://heartonpaper86.livejournal.com. I’m hoping to one day write a book…errr, I suppose finish one of the 13 book projects I have sitting around the apartment. Maybe one of those books can be about food? We’ll see.
