Charmian Christie's Portfolio

Kitchen Disasters & Fixes goes live

Charmian — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:10:05 +0000

Last night I got news that my app, Kitchen Disasters & Fixes, went live on iTunes. If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, culinary help is at hand. Save the salty soup and rescue the runny mashed potatoes!

To celebrate, I’m hosting a giveaway on my blog. Just leave a comment telling me about the kitchen disasters that plague you, and you could win a free copy of my app.

I understand an Android version is on its way. For those without smartphones, I’ll be tweeting tips via @charmian_c.

Kitchen Disaster App is on its way

Charmian — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:50:37 +0000

What do you do when your mashed potatoes are runny, the cookies are burned or your soup’s too salty? Reach for the phone, ’cause there’s an app for this kind of thing.

My iTunes and Android app, Kitchen Disasters & Fixes, addresses common cooking mistakes, offering quick and practical fixes that will save face as well as dinner.

Stay tuned for details on the release date and a chance to win a copy.

Mad for Marmalade

Charmian — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:42:59 +0000

On Saturday, February 25th, I’m braving the cold weather and heading into Toronto to judge marmalade at Mad for Marmalade, Crazy for Citron. I’m fairly new to the world of crafting homemade preserves, but as a long-time marmalade fan I’m more than prepared to voice an opinion — or two. Driving in with Marilyn Rootham and Emily Richards, I’m calling shotgun!

Tumbling in

Charmian — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:20:43 +0000

Because I don’t have enough to do with my time, I’ve decided to create a Tumblr. For a while, I dabbled with Wordless Wednesdays on my blog. But I couldn’t be wordless and Wednesdays just seem the most unpredictable day of the week. So I created a Tumblr.

What will I do with it? I figure this is where I’ll stuff all those creative snippets that don’t fit my blog, the ideas I haven’t turned into stories (yet) or photos I just want to play with. Who knows? I might get pretentious and post pithy quotes and witty epigrams. Or maybe I’ll just see what develops.

Only one post is up so far. But I’ve added a tab in the menu, both here and on my blog, so I’m hoping this will give me a bit of a push. One down. An unknown quantity to go.

Taste Canada

Charmian — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:00:01 +0000

I’m proud to be part of the newly launched Taste Canada—The Food Writing Awards. Formerly known as the Canadian Culinary Book Awards, these newly branded annual Awards recognize and celebrate superior writing and publishing throughout Canada’s culinary world. Past winners include Laura Calder, Ricardo, Lucy Waverman, Massimo Capra and Anita Stewart.

As part of the Taste Canada team, I created their website and run Canada Cooks the Books, the student cooking competition. In doing so, I meet some of Canada’s top cookbook authors, like Elizabeth Baird and Christine Cushing, coordinate dozens of culinary students from across the country, and liaise with wide range of cooking school instructors. Along the way, if I have to sample some pretty amazing food as part of my job, so be it.

April Showers

Charmian — Mon, 02 May 2011 12:00:32 +0000

Despite the wet weather and non-stop political campaigning, April was a good month. I started an internet food fight in defence of the simple potato, and had five articles published at CanadianGardening.com — three of them going live the same day. Heirloom beets, often overlooked sunchokes and marvellous morels are three reasons to love spring. Like you need a reason.

Clean Eating

Charmian — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:11:30 +0000

My sister just called to ream me out. I didn’t tell her I was cited in the April issue of Clean Eating. In my defence, I didn’t know for sure if my quotes would make it into the published piece. They did. So now you know.

The article, 10 Common Cooking Mistakes, covers an area in which I’m pretty well versed. In this piece, I talk to author Jill Silverman Hough about the dangers of overmixing muffin batter. Okay, “dangers” is a bit strong, but you gotta admit, rubbery muffins are a crime.

Nearly there

Charmian — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 13:25:19 +0000

Less than a week in and the site’s almost rebuilt. See? Media appearances, some of which play YouTube videos without bouncing you off to another site. The links are working and the thumbnails no longer look like they’re made of stretched Silly Putty. Small victories, I know, but not bad for someone who vaporized her last site with the click of a button.

With only a page or two to go, I’m tempting fate and proclaiming this site officially opened. Everyone but Murphy is welcomed to take a tour.

Ooops!

Charmian — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:31:54 +0000

Dear heavens. Why does anyone let me near a computer without a license?

When I moved my portfolio site over to WordPress, things went awry. I think I broke the Internet. Or at least badly wounded it.

The site I carefully constructed did not miraculously reappear despite the backup I so diligently performed. So, I will have to rebuild inch by inch.

Stay tuned. It’s gonna be messy.

CTV: Thai Curry

Charmian — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 01:40:49 +0000

After several CTV News at Noon appearances, chopping, mincing, grating, pureeing and peeling, I figure it’s time I actually cooked. So, with the new overhead camera hovering above, I’ll be turning up the heat with a quick Thai Curry. Can Kyle and I actually make a 20-minute curry in 6 minutes? Tune in to find out. Iron Chef, eat your heart out.