Meet Lori Hastings from Recipe Runway

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July 9, 2010 by Arlyn W. | Comments (0)

Whether it’s cherished family recipes or recipes from experts chefs, at CRAVE we’re guilty of accumulating massive amounts of recipes that we have no idea how to keep track of. Thank goodness for Recipe Runway , a great service that helps preserve and collect all your fabulous recipes.  This week Lori Hastings, founder of Recipe Runway, shares her love of food, recipes, inspiration, and business lessons with the CRAVE community.

What was your inspiration for Recipe Runway?
The inspiration was due to my passion for recipe collecting. This passion grew into 3000 loose recipes in messy folders and 1500 plus cookbooks. I collected my way right into my business – what do I do with my cherished recipes? I had an unorganized treasure of fabulous recipes that I could not locate quickly, or share with family and friends in an efficient manner. I also wanted a way to preserve the handwritten recipes stains and all along with all my magazine tear outs I had collected.

What is your viewpoint on cooking?
Master a technique of cooking that you truly like. Mastering recipes in that technique is where you will gain your confidence. Then learn another technique. Be willing to experiment with new ingredients even if you don’t get the desired result. Most of all have fun with it.

I happen to love quick pan sauces. I have mastered this technique and cooked my way into some very signature sauces that I can count on every time. I enjoy the process.

I also believe you must always sprinkle ambiance into the equation. So have fun with the process, enjoy creating ambiance, know a few delicious recipes, master more when you’re ready and be totally present with your family or guests when you sit down together to eat.

What mistakes have you made in your business that you will not repeat?
Not trusting my intuition – even when it was giving me the warning signals. I now honor this gift that we women have been blessed with. The other learning lesson that I do now very diligently but wished I had started sooner is being very strategic about each day. Busy is not business, but correct strategy and correction action is.

What would people be surprised to know about you?
I would love to write a murder mystery novel that takes place in Italy while attending a world recipe exchange conference. I’m the recipe sleuth that solves this murder mystery. Of course the novel would be spiced up with many delicious recipes and interesting foodies.

What do you CRAVE during the summer season?
I always CRAVE a wonderful picnic. My basket would be full of fresh apricots, juicy peaches and luscious strawberries with a light citrus cream sauce for dipping. Sandwiches full of fresh produce from the nearest farmers market – like red and yellow peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes (roasted) topped with wonderful cheese, olives, basil and watercress – served on crusty fresh artisan bread with a variety of spread options. There would be a colorful orzo salad, along with grilled off chicken skewers with peanut sauce. (all of it made by scratch).

I always make spice cake with caramel icing for every picnic basket. It travels well and is a delight to the palette. That is my summer CRAVE–a delicious picnic, a beautiful hike with good friends and good conversation and ended on a sweet note – spice cake!

What is the most exciting project Recipe Runway is working on right now?
Thank you for asking that. We are about to launch a WebTV program the end of July which is just around the corner. The program is all about the romance of food and the nostalgia of family. It is such a fun project. It is such a compliment to Recipe Runway. The show continues the conversation about all things food. It is a wonderful and entertaining show about a subject that never ends – food. Stay tuned!

Try your free trial of Recipe Runway here!

“Continue to collect and connect” -Lori Hastings

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