Today we’d like to introduce you to Karishma Pradhan.
Karishma, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I first fell in love with cooking in middle school. I watched every Food Network show imaginable, scoured food blogs, and stained the pages of countless cookbooks as I attempted to perfect recipes such as chicken piccata, homemade marinara sauce, and cioppino stew.
I continued cooking throughout college and as a working adult, inviting friends over for brunches and dinner parties to share homemade pasta, ice cream, or a re-creation of the latest meal I tried at a restaurant. Even on weeknights, after coming home tired and exhausted from the work day, I found solace in cooking; the simple act of sifting through my pantry to brainstorm a delicious weeknight meal was enough to restore my energy.
Eventually, I turned my love of cooking into a full-time job as a food blogger, professional recipe developer, food photographer, and food writer. My recipes are extensively researched and tested, and I provide lots of tips and tricks to eliminate any sources of stress in your cooking process with the ultimate goal of cultivating joy through cooking. Now, many years later, I’ve been featured in various print and online publications, such as Edible Boston, BuzzFeed, Food52, theKitchn, Simply Recipes, and more.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve definitely faced a lot of obstacles and failures since starting my business! That said, I think they were really pivotal to helping me narrow in on my focus and achieve the success I have today.
When I first started my business, I wasn’t exactly sure what path I wanted to take, so I said “yes” to every opportunity that came my way. In some ways, this was really helpful as I gained many different sets of skills, from learning marketing to growing my social media to hosting cooking classes to taking photography workshops. On the other hand, I soon realized how exhausting it was mentally to constantly task-switch and accept every project. Eventually, I sat down and mapped out very specific key goals for every quarter and every year, and every time I looked at a new project, I made sure to ask the question, “does this align with my goals?”
It’s also been challenging trying to figure out the optimal way to structure my day. As a freelancer and business owner, I don’t have a set “schedule.” I love having the freedom to wake up at my own leisure (I don’t set alarms anymore!), but there’s a key balance to setting “just” enough structure to make sure I get my tasks done without stifling my creativity. Now, I use a combination of AirTable for quarterly planning and a weekly task list to manage my time.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a professional recipe developer, food photographer, and food blogger specializing in cozy, flavorful, from-scratch recipes aimed at cultivating joy in cooking. I utilize an extensive recipe testing process, from conducting research to testing (and re-testing many times) recipes until they’re absolutely delicious and worth the effort. I even have an in-house recipe tester for my more complicated recipes!
Because I test a lot of “from-scratch” dishes from around the globe, from homemade bread to handmade pastas, I make sure to include lots of details on the history, culture, and science around a particular recipe. I truly love sharing this knowledge, and I think it’s so important to offer context on every dish and honor the cultures that created them.
I also offer private cooking workshops that break down the science and intuition behind various topics, from Indian cooking to focaccia. My mission is to create moments of joy in the kitchen — I believe that cooking can be a generous act of self-care and I love spreading that belief through my recipes, workshops, and cooking guides.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
COVID has taught me so much about being resourceful and not being afraid to pivot! I actually started my business at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, and I hosted many Zoom workshops to bolster and support my community in times of isolation.
Contact Info:
- Website: homecookingcollective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homecookingcollective/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm5whGKrsza3p19wBjhGvyA
- Other: karishmapradhan.com
Image Credits
Brianna Coleman
