take 5 with...honey & jam

(all photos in this post are by Hannah at Honey & Jam)

First off, I want to apologize to everyone about this post's delay. I've been pretty busy with tests and overcoming an illness last week so things got backed up a little bit. No worries though - if all goes to plan, I'll be having a double feature for T5W this week! Now, back to the important stuff...

One of two things can happen when you stumble upon Hannah's blog for the first time. You either 1) have a photography revelation (think your first car or getting an iPhone scale reaction) or 2) walk over to your camera and throw it against the wall in shame and frustration while inspired by beautiful art. Hannah is the ingenious mind behind Honey and Jam and if you've ever browsed through Tastespotting - I guarantee you've visited her wonderful blog.

At only 19 years of age, Hannah shows incredible talent, creativity and maturity through her blog's content. I'm not sure what you guys were doing at that age but when I was 19 (man that was so 2 years ago...), my sole artistic ability came from putting organic chemistry molecules together so I could get into pharmacy school. Seriously though - amazing stuff Hannah. I'm always inspired reading through your posts! So, with great excitement...

Take 5 With... Hannah from Honey and Jam

1. Hi Hannah! Would you like to introduce yourself to any of our readers who may not know of you? (although I'm pretty sure everyone knows you already!)

- Hi Sean! Sure! I’m Hannah, I’m 19, I live in the mountains of North Georgia with my parents,  sister, brother, 4 dogs, 3 cats and 4 chickens. It’s pretty much a zoo around here.

2. I'm sure this is something you get asked a lot so let's answer everybody's question: what camera and lens do you use to take your gorgeous photographs?

- I use a canon digital rebel xsi with a 50mm f1.4 lens. That lens is totally worth every penny.

3.  How did you develop interest in baking and photography?

- I've been taking pictures for as long as I can remember - apparently I won a photography contest in 3rd grade, but I don’t remember it at all! I got into food photography about a year ago, and love it, even though it’s challenging sometimes. 

As for baking, I never really did much in the kitchen until I was about 17 and got a cupcake cookbook. I became obsessed with finding the perfect cupcake recipe. It was then fell in love with the process, the measuring of ingredients, the careful stirring and sifting, and most of all that moment when you pull something out of the oven and it’s just so perfect (and even when it’s not). I still haven’t found the perfect cupcake recipe yet, but I did gain a new hobby!

4. What inspired you to start Honey & Jam?

- I needed a creative outlet. I didn’t start out with a food blog in mind, as I wasn’t baking nearly as much as I do now. I was picking up photography again after a hiatus (switching over from film to digital was not an easy process for me!) and it seemed like it would be fun.

5. What do you enjoy most about blogging?

- I love that it pushes me to keep baking, even when I don’t feel like it.  I love when people write me and tell me that they’d never baked before but were inspired after visiting my blog. That totally makes my day. I’m also immensely grateful for the food blogging community. Every one is so welcoming and encouraging.

6. What do you enjoy least about blogging?

- That it pushes me to bake when I don’t feel like it. haha! But seriously, I can’t think of anything I don’t really like.

7. One thing you'd like to ban or see get changed from food blogs?

- I’d love for everyone to rip the flashes from their cameras and go au naturale.

8. What's the most important advice you'd give people who are looking to improve their photography skills?

- Learn how to use your camera properly! Don’t rely on auto. Take pictures all the time, of everything, and take A LOT, you can just delete them if they are bad! Also, use natural light! It’ll make all the difference.  Flip through magazines - study how the food is styled and how the light hits the food. That has helped me so much.

9. How long does it take to finish one of your posts? It looks like a lot of work is put into every single entry!

- Probably about half a day, including prep/baking time/photographing/editing and writing.

10. This isn't a question but... Visit Hannah's Etsy shop here!

11. So who gets to eat all of those delicious baked goods after you make them? You can send some over this way if you want...

- My family and friends! I’m pretty sure they get sick of all that sugar though (too much of a good thing!), so send me your address. ;) (Sean: UGA College of Pharmacy, 250 Green Street, Athens, GA 30605. I pretty much live there)

12. What's your favorite ingredient to work with? Least favorite?

- This is so hard! I love oats - in crisps, cookies, breads. They add such a homey, rustic element to baked goods. Least favorite? Espresso powder and instant coffee.

The flavors are always so overwhelming.

13. What kitchen tool can't you live without?

- My Kitchen Aid Mixer. I would cry if it died. It’s on my top 3 list of things I’d grab if the house were on fire, right after the dog and my camera. I’d be without a house, but at least I could make whipped cream. Whipped cream makes everything better. (Sean: I'm still going through no-mixer induced kitchen depression)

14. What's on the menu for your death row meal?

- Roast chicken, mashed potatoes with lots of butter, steamed broccoli, a really good crusty french bread and chocolate chip cookies.

15. Food that evokes the greatest childhood memory?

- Green bean casserole. It reminds me so much of Christmas and Thanksgiving as a kid. I LOVED it (still do, actually) and couldn’t wait for that time of the year to roll around, no one else in my family likes it, but my mom would always make it for me.

16. Any food in particular you hate/won't eat?

- I recently discovered I really don’t like persimmons. They are mushy, just a little too sweet when ripe and wholly unappetizing.

17. Any guilty pleasure foods?

- Chick Fil A chicken nuggets + honey mustard = heaven.

18. Drink of choice?

- Sweet tea. I am a southern girl after all.

19. Favorite cookbook (or food related book) that you think everyone should have?

- My Life in France. Julia Child is such an inspiration. Her love of and passion for food and life is infectious - you can’t help but smile while reading her descriptions of the food she ate and made.

20. Any final words you'd like to say to your readers?

- I just want to say thank you. I’m so appreciative of every comment and email I receive from you all. It keeps me going! 

Thanks for playing along Hannah!