Jennifer Perillo

rents can do with their kids?Kids love baking, and mine are no different. The muffin and scone recipes in Homemade with Love are especially fun because you don't need any special tools. In fact, this is one of those times when kids get to play with their food, as they use their fingers to rub the butter into the flour mixture to make the dough. The All-Purpose Baking Mix (I told you I really love this one) also makes it super quick and easy for kids to make breakfast- all by themselves! That's a big plus, with Mother's Day right around the corner.5. You have an extremely popular food blog, In Jennie's Kitchen - how did that first come about and how have your readers supported you over the years.My blog has always been about the stories, and how food fits into my life. That's why I started In Jennie's Kitchen- to find my voice outside of writing for magazines. I love baking, but I don't sugar coat things, especially during this last year and half. Life is messy and complicated, but it's also extremely fulfilling and rewarding if you work at finding inspiration in the big and small moments. My readers have been an incredible source of inspiration and encouragement, especially just after my husband died. I posted a recipe for Peanut Butter Pie a few days before his memorial in August of 2011. The intention was really to give friends who couldn't attend a way to be there in spirit, to honour the life and love of someone very special to me. After I shared the recipe, the most incredible act of kindness then happened. It is literally the pie made around the world- Buenos Aires, France, Italy, Amsterdam and people in many more places opened their hearts and kitchens to celebrate love and his life, by making A Pie for Mikey.6. What chefs or home cooks have inspired you the most and why?The everyday folks like myself, juggling a career, family and trying to retain some sense of a personal life- those are the cooks that inspire me. It may sound generic, but it's true. They are the reason I love creating recipes, to offer a helping hand and make their lives in the kitchen easier, and most importantly enjoyable.7. What are some must have ingredients any home chef should have in their kitchen?I get this question a lot, and really that all depends on what you like to cook. Do you love making mostly savoury dishes? Is baking your passion? Or do you love both? It matters when you approach the best way to stock up on both tools and ingredients. I included my essentials in the Build a Better Pantry chapter. As for tools, there are three I always pack when going away for a long trip: my chef's knife, a set of tongs and a cutting board.8. Where can you find Homemade with Love?It's available at bookstores nationwide, and online at Amazon (in the U.S. and Canada), Barnes