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You are here: Home / About Me

About Me

Welcome to Kitchen Conundrum. I’m Renee and I am happy you stopped by.

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I grew up around food and I find that no matter what I have done in my life, I always gravitate towards the kitchen. My favorite way to spend the weekend is in the kitchen with my husband and kids creating an elaborate meal. It may take the entire day to prepare and only a few minutes to eat, but it’s the journey and the spending time with the people I love that is paramount to me. Food is truly love made visible.

One of my favorite pastimes is to try cuisines from far away lands.  Perhaps it is a way to satiate my never ending wanderlust. I am not always successful in fulfilling my traveling desire but I do try to wander as much as I can. Here at home, I can be found seeking out exotic ingredients, cooking techniques and recipes from distant places.  It is not uncommon for me to travel to the outer reaches around NYC to seek out just the perfect ingredient or table setting to match the feel of the cuisine we are having for dinner on any given weekend. Of course, here in NYC, we are also surrounded with cuisines from all around the world. So if I am not able to cook, I can certainly eat out!

Over the years, I have amassed quite a collection of cookbooks, food writing commentaries and food memoirs. I read them from cover to cover, like novels. I intentionally seek out books with beautiful photographs and memorable stories. I sincerely enjoy reading the stories surrounding the food itself, their authors and their motivations for bringing their recipes to life. It is true, I am a cookbook junkie. When in doubt of a gift for me, buy me a cookbook. My Amazon list is a few pages long! I also love good chocolate. But who doesn’t?

This site is meant to share some of my favorite recipes, cookbook reviews, products I love and places I travel.  I do the writing, but my blog partner and husband, Ari, also helps out and makes some guest appearances every now and again.  He is a trained chef, and his knife skills are much better than mine, so he doesn’t mind being my Sous chef/prep help from time to time. 🙂 Truthfully, he often takes the lead in the kitchen on some of the meals we create while I direct. And the kids, well, they are a huge help too. I’ve got them in the kitchen on occasion as well. It’s definitely a family affair.

Here at Kitchen Conundrum, I really want you to be a part of my little spot in the blogosphere so feel free to contact me at editors@kitchenconundrum.com. If you have content you would like to submit, suggestions or just want to say hi, please drop me a note.

You can also reach me at

renee@kitchenconundrum.com

HAPPY COOKING!

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Patatas Bravas. There’s really nothing better. S Patatas Bravas. There’s really nothing better. Spicy, smoked paprika on roasted potatoes with tomatoes and créma. Dreaming of Spain. #sogood #comfortfood #eatthemall #potaotes #patatasbravas #spain #camino #caminodesantiago
Chocolate Babka! It’s a two day process but so w Chocolate Babka! It’s a two day process but so worth it. So good! 
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#babka #chocolate #baking #chocolatebabka
Tonight we didn’t order in. We had homemade eggr Tonight we didn’t order in. We had homemade eggrolls and chicken fried rice along with some store bought dumplings. #sogood #chinesefood #fridaynight #tradition
Chicken Parm… a nice family dinner. Can’t beat Chicken Parm… a nice family dinner. Can’t beat comfort food! #dinner #family #familystyle
Totally forgot to post the cut of my soap here. It Totally forgot to post the cut of my soap here. Its been very busy and I’m like a whirling dervish in all different directions. On the food front we made some favorites-Chicken Marbella that sustained us for a week and also a Corned Beef and Cabbage dish because it is March after all. But it was good to have the comfort foods we love and old standards as they provide the most contentment when it’s chaos everywhere else. Regular work and then some wholesale orders and getting the line poured for our Spring/Summer scents. And helping others with a few website issues. And kids. Thankfully, it seems to all be under control now and I’m really happy to be busy. All good things! 

The Eucalyptus Mint cut (smells amazing!) turned out so nice. Very happy with it. Had a request for a classic Cucumber Melon soap. Also a lovely fresh and clean spring/ summer scent. Available soon. But the Spring/Summer line of candles are done and are now available! Yay! 
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#cpsoap #cooking #smallbusiness #candlemaking #candles #soap #busy #happy
Still cooking. This week I made the amazing stuffe Still cooking. This week I made the amazing stuffed vegetables from Aglaia Kremezi and they were so delicious. But I didn’t take any photos. I did, however, take video of my latest soap pour. White eucalyptus and mint. Smells amazing! Can’t wait to see how the cut turns out. It was a bit thicker trace than I expected. 
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#coldprocesssoap #soap #soapmaking #ecualyptus #mint #stillinthekitchen #somethingdifferent
It’s been a week! Time to relax a little. Braise It’s been a week! Time to relax a little. Braised short ribs and polenta. Dinner is served! 
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#weekend #weekendvibes #cooking #dinner #shortribs #polenta
Breakfast buddies. I love when he crunches toast. Breakfast buddies. I love when he crunches toast. #sharing #labradoodle #lovemydog #notofficiallyonthebed
It’s been ages since I’ve posted here. Well, a It’s been ages since I’ve posted here. Well, a month, lol. Thats a while! We made it through the holidays and we are into the new year. And while we are still cooking a lot, most of my big concoctions lately have been outside the kitchen and in the soap/candle studio. Here I am mixing scents, clays and mica colorants. Lots of new products coming to @lesilobleu soon. 
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#candlemaking #soapmaking #coldprocesssoap #giftideas #smallbusiness
Traditional Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Puddings a Traditional Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Puddings and roasties. Even though it wasn’t Sunday. A favorite. 
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#sundayroast #beef #potatoes #yorkshirepudding #dinner #yum
Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and very Merry Ch Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and very Merry Christmas! From all of us to all of you!
A little confiture with our biscuits this morning. A little confiture with our biscuits this morning. Fun flavors with pretty packaging. It’s a bit too sweet for me but I do like the pretty presentation. 
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#jam #preserves #confiture #confitureparisienne #framboise #macaron #biscuits
Chicken Piccata for dinner. Love, love, love the l Chicken Piccata for dinner. Love, love, love the lemony white wine and caper sauce. A favorite! #dinner #chicken #lemon #yum
Fried chicken and waffles for dinner. With a maple Fried chicken and waffles for dinner. With a maple sriracha syrup. #dinner #eat #friedchicken #waffle #chickenandwaffles #yum
Leftovers! The best thing for lunch the next day- Leftovers!  The best thing for lunch the next day- Thanksgiving dinner on a roll. #thanksgiving #leftovers #thanksgivingdinneronaroll #yum #thebest
We are full of food and love today! So grateful fo We are full of food and love today! So grateful for the family around our table. #love #gratitude #thanksgiving #family
Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! We are Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! We are so grateful for each and every one of you! However you spend your day, may it be filled with love and deliciousness! 
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#thanksgiving #gratitude #love #friends #family #delish
So many blooms from our roses … still!!! It’s So many blooms from our roses … still!!! It’s November! I’m capturing them and will dry the petals for soap and bath salts. #roses #latebloomer #davidaustinroses #loveroses
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