Tell Me All About It: Q&A with Sally McCaffrey

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Sally. She's a food + cooking blogger [her blog is Sally Cooks], new mom, mother to two ADORABLE labs, yogi, and all around amazing gal. I met Sally back in VA, at my old yoga studio, Tranquil Space, and immediately loved her. She's sweet, down-to-earth, smart, gorgeous, and very real. 

But do you want to know what boggles my mind about Sally? In the past 1.5 years, she's done the following: gotten married, adopted two dogs, moved to a new state, bought a house, and had a baby. Basically EVERYTHING stressful and almost all of the big life changes you can imagine in less than 2 years. Can you stand it? And she still has a smile on her face, blogs regularly, and cooks amazing meals 5 or 6 times per week! She must have a good head on her shoulders, huh? 

So, knowing all of that, I wanted to learn more about Sally--and luckily, she found the time to complete my Q&A. It's amazing to read through her answers knowing all of the change that she's recently undergone, because she sounds so wonderfully grounded (maybe it's all of the cooking?).

Read on for all things Sally and her love of food + family...

What's the story of your blog? Why did you start it/why do you continue to write + share?
For years I liked following cooking blogs and wondered what it would be like to have my own website to record and share recipes. I met my husband in November of 2012 and with his encouragement, I took the leap and hit publish as a New Year's resolution of sorts in January 2013. I told myself even if it was just my Mom reading, writing a cooking blog would be a great way to keep track of recipes I'd made and would inspire me to be more creative in the kitchen. 

I've continued to blog for the last two years because it does inspire creativity and organization in meal planning and because of the connections I've made with readers across the country. My blog has grown organically and I get the biggest thrill when a reader tells me they made and liked one of my recipes. I've also really enjoyed learning about photography, website design and social media. I'll quit blogging when it isn't fun anymore.  

What inspires you?
Pinterest, cooking blogs, magazines, and cookbooks are my main sources of inspiration.  I also have a treasure trove of family recipes from both sides of my family. My maternal Grandmother was a fantastic southern cook (pound cakes + fried chicken, anyone?) and my paternal Grandmother hailed from Minnesota and was a connoisseur of the almighty hot dish and jello salad.  

What's your creative process like?
I love the ritual of cooking, the process of searching for recipe inspiration, gathering my ingredients, and using my hands to create something delicious and sustaining. Normally I’ll sit down on Sunday and figure out what I want to make that week and what that will require from the grocery store.  

When did you start cooking? 
I’ve loved cooking, eating, and learning about food for as long as I can remember. I started experimenting (and making huge messes) in the kitchen in middle school. The results were often inedible, but I think this wild experimentation was the best way for me to learn and to fall in love with cooking. I hope my son (now 6 months old) will like experimenting in the kitchen too.  

What's your favorite dish or meal to make? 
My husband is my favorite person to cook for and I make us dinner around five or six nights a week. This is my favorite kind of cooking because it allows us to spend time together over a relaxed meal. I really don't make the same things twice or have a favorite thing to make.    

What's your favorite blog post you've ever written and why?
I love this post where I shared some of my wedding pictures. Pure joy!!

If you could study under anyone for a year, who would it be?
Julia Child. To understand why I feel this way, check out these two books: My Life in France + Julia's Kitchen Wisdom: Essential Techniques and Recipes from a Lifetime of Cooking, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She's the queen! I'd also love to learn from Martha Stewart, but I think Julia would be a lot more fun...

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
Childbirth. And now, having a happy + healthy son! 

What's your yoga story? 
I first started practicing in May 2010 right after I graduated from law school. I was searching for a way to relax and exercise during the summer while I studied for the Bar Exam. I happened upon a fantastic studio in Chapel Hill with some great teachers. I'd wake up and spend a few hours watching bar review classes online and then hit a midday yoga class before spending another few hours with my books. In retrospect, it was a great summer and I've been hooked on yoga ever since! 

What's your biggest guilty pleasure?
Trashy TV, mostly reality shows like Teen Mom, Bachelor, Real Housewives and on and on... I've been all about it since high school and my DVR is what kept me going through the late nights/early mornings of nursing a newborn this past fall...   

What's your favorite book and why?
That's such a tough question for me! I love to read and I love the public library. My favorite book or the one I'm the most excited about is usually the book I'm in the middle of or the one I just finished. I enjoy books about food/chefs/cooking, biographies, mysteries, historical fiction and nonfiction and most recently, books about parenting. From time to time I post my  book recommendations on my blog, here. 

What's your biggest dream for 2015?
We've had a whirlwind couple of years, between getting married in Oct. '13, adopting two dogs in Dec. '13,  moving to a new state and becoming homeowners in Feb. '14, and finally having our son this August. Now our focus is to slow things down (if that's even possible!) and enjoy where we are.  No big life changes in 2015! (Did I just jinx myself?)

How do you stay balanced? How do you unwind? 
Yoga, wine, and conversations with my Mom.  

If you were exiled to a desert island and could only bring 3 things, what would they be?
Definitely my husband, baby, and our 2 dogs.  If we're just talking things then a laptop with wifi, sun protective clothing (a must when I'm outside more than 15 minutes) and I can't think of a third thing!!! I really don't want to be exiled to a desert island without my family....

What's one item that you cannot live without?
Coffee.

Words of wisdom you live by?
Now that I'm a Mom, I repeat the mantra "The days are long but the years are short" in my head a few times a day.  

If you could live anywhere for one year, where would it be and why?
Paris.  I lived there for 2 months one summer of college and it remains my favorite European city.  I love the food, the sights, the culture, the language - everything! 

Want to learn more about Sally? You can find her in the following places: 

• Blog
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• Facebook
  
  

Thanks for taking the time to tell me all about it, Sally!