This week, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Paula Mohammed from In My Kitchen with Paula. Paula and I share a Love of good food, connection, and exploring different cultures.
Paula told me all about how she started In My Kitchen back in 2018 to bring people together and celebrate traditional recipes. We also talked about her podcast, where she shares amazing culinary stories from cooks all over the world. One of my favorite parts of our chat was hearing how online cooking experiences unexpectedly took off during the pandemic—and how food continues to be such a powerful way to connect.
We got into everything from the joy of learning from passionate home cooks, to navigating cultural appropriation in the kitchen, to dreaming up future online classes we’d love to co-host. I can’t wait for you to hear this one—it’s all about food as a bridge, and the magic that happens when we gather around a meal.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:12 Paula's Podcast Journey
02:20 Cultural Connections Through Food
03:33 Challenges and Pivots
05:34 Exploring Iranian Culture
08:10 Food as a Cultural Bridge
21:17 Building Connections Through Virtual Classes
23:11 The Joy of Cooking Together Online
25:51 Acts of Kindness and Culinary Stories
29:38 Cultural Appreciation in Cooking
36:16 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement
You can find Paula at www.exploreinmykitchen.com
pod on all major platforms:Â inmykitchenwithpaula
IG:Â @inmykitchenpaula
Hi! I’m Christine, and I’m super stoked to be cooking, writing, and helping everyone sink into to a better life. If you’re looking for healthier recipes for one and two, or want to add more delightful cocktails into your repertoire, you’re in the right place.
My philosophy is simple:
It’s a meal, not a mortgage.
Real food is the most important factor in good cooking.
If you’re going to drink, drink in moderation and always drink the good stuff.
I’ve been teaching cooking for a long, long time, and I am still excited to cook, teach, and share with you. If you’ve got a question, I’ll work hard to give you an answer so that you’re better and more confident in the kitchen. Hey, it’s a meal not a mortgage, so there’s nothing to stress about and only fun to be had.
With a heart attack in 2020, loss of my brick & mortar cooking school business of 15 years, broken bones, and even my husband having a stroke, and all within just a couple of months, I've been through it! BUT, I’m a lucky gal with endless support and a deep gratitude for everything that I do have. It’s not always easy, but I’m working to make sure that it stays fun.
Post heart attack, I’m reforming my butter-loving, heavy cream worshiping ways by making changes to how I cook, taking things in a healthier direction, without doing a complete 180 and still keeping things flavorful and delightful. The key here is healthier. I’m not afraid of butter, but I’m using a touch instead of stick. A tablespoon or two of cream or half-and-half, not a cup, and so on and so forth. And now that the kids are grown and living lives on their own, I’m re-learning how to cook for two.
