OMG, I Think I’m a Foodie!

We put labels on a lot of things–people included. There are many labels I would give myself: good listener, funny, creative, obsessive handbag connoisseur, and the list goes on and on. However, what I discovered after coming home from dinner with one of my girlfriends last week is I can add another label to myself–foodie. This one caught me by surprise, but after careful consideration–I don’t know why.

See, I always thought foodie’s were those people who chased the latest fads like food trucks and cupcakes; always went to the latest and trendiest restaurant openings; things like that. While the term may apply to those people, I think foodie covers a broader spectrum.  Here’s why I think I fall into it. I love to cook. I love to bake. (I’m good at both.) I like to go out to eat–including trying trendy new restaurants–but I also LOVE an eatery that’s considered a hole in the wall with good food. I love inviting friends over and having a theme for a meal and finding recipes to fill out the menu. And  yes, I watch the Food Network and buy food magazines (when the covers look particularly yummy).

When I say I watch the Food Network, I’m not watching Chopped or other cooking competition shows (though I was really into Iron Chef America for a while). I watch and DVR cooking shows. My 3 favorites are (in no particular order):

• The Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten)
• Giada at Home (Giada De Laurentiis)
• The Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond)

Every week I record and watch these 3 shows and then determine which recipes I’m going to try out. My list is growing substantially, to say the least. This was the final component that sealed my foodie fate. I am super excited to add this latest label to my repertoire of personal descriptors–and in turn, as I try out new recipes, I’ll let everyone know how they go. First up: The Pioneer Woman’s Crash Hot Potatoes