Meet Amy Johnson, known here as missamy. You might recognize her pretty face as the one behind She Wears Many Hats, a blog she started less than a year ago. Which probably means you could add The Flash’s headpiece to her list of hats.
Prior to becoming a full-time stay-at-home mom, Amy was a graphic designer who became an Art Director, working in the advertising industry for eight years. And prior to that, she was busy dreaming of becoming a cruise director like Julie McCoy from The Love Boat, sailing around the world meeting people and planning events.
I think the travel industry lost out on that one.
Amy and her husband live in upstate South Carolina with their two children, ages 11 and 14. She says that their home is always filled with music and goofiness. And, from the looks of her Tasty Kitchen recipe box, their home is also filled with good food.
Amy professes a love for singing, accompanied by terrible, hive-inducing stage fright. She lists photography and gardening as her current favorite hobbies, confessing that she is an overambitious gardener who is always planting more than they can manage.
Cooking, for her, is mostly therapeutic, and listening to her favorite music while cooking is some of her favorite “me” time. And as beautiful and perfect as her dishes look, she declares that she’s always making stupid mistakes in the kitchen. “Always,” she reiterates. But she doesn’t let those mistakes dissuade her, and instead sees them as opportunities to learn and become a better cook in the long run.
Although, honestly, it sure looks like she’s already well into “better cook” territory.
White Bean Chicken Chili on the left, and Chicken Cashew Lettuce Wraps on the right.
Amy’s recipes here are as diverse as, well, the hats that she wears. Aside from many delicious, creative dips, she also has wonderful breakfast ideas, like the Basic Baked Eggs you see in the top photo. You should also consider checking out her recipe box if you’ve got some brie and don’t know what to do with it. She’ll fix you right up.
Simple Baked Brie (left), Mini Brie Bites (center), and Turkey Brie and Apple Grilled Sandwich (right)
And although she says that baking gives her the most trouble in the kitchen (more on that later), you’d never know it looking at some of her dessert recipes.
They’ll Make You Sing Muffins on the left, and Chocolate Muffins with Pumpkin Frosting on the right.
So, without further delay, let’s ask Amy some questions and get to know her even better!
Q: Do you have any favorite chefs or food celebrities? Who inspires you?
A: There are so many great chefs to admire and follow nowadays, but I recall as a child watching at eye level my Nana and her mother, my Nanny, cook, creating things from scratch. I remember thinking how gifted they were and how special it made me feel that they would spending time working with their hands for our family. And it was always, always good.
Q: What is your go-to dish or meal?
A: Pasta. It’s easy and I always have ingredients on hand for some kind of sauce combo.
Q: What if you had to eat something right now, and had only 3 minutes to get it ready? What would it be?
A: I’m make an egg sandwich. Or, if it’s summertime, a fresh tomato sandwich.
Q: What gives you the most trouble in the kitchen?
A: Baking. When I cook, I don’t really measure, so baking throws me a bit. I need to understand the science behind it all. Recently, I purchased Dorie Greenspan’s “Baking: From My Home To Yours” in hopes that it will inspire me in my baking endeavors.
Q: Give us one of your favorite kitchen tips that you wish you’d always known.
A: I wish I’d always know to relax, because cooking is not brain surgery. Unless I’m cooking with truffles (which I’ve yet to so far) or other ingredients that cost more than the pot they’re cooked in, I try to remember to chill, turn on some favorite music, and have fun.
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Thank you, Amy! For taking the time out to answer our questions, we promise never to ask you to sing on stage. We might, though, as you about this picture that’s been going around these parts.
For more of Amy and her multitude of hats—all of which she dons quite skillfully—head to her blog, She Wears Many Hats.
