Serving advice and recipes with celebrity chef Ingrid Hoffmann

Ingrid Hoffmann serves up advice on cooking and more.

Ingrid Hoffmann, Colombian-born chef and star of Food Network’s Simply Delicioso, spices up her dishes, television show, multimedia applications and more with her zest for life and appreciation towards her first love – food! Quinceanera.com receives a generous portion of seasoned advice, recipes and more from this cooking veteran. She also gives our Quince girls advice on what utensils every teenager should take with them to college and fast and easy meals that a teenager can make themselves.

Jackie Mejia: How did you start learning how to cook?

Ingrid: “I was a student of my mother (who is a Cordon Bleu-trained chef). I loved it and they couldn’t get me out of the kitchen.”

Jackie: What is one of the best ways someone can learn how to cook for themselves?

Ingrid: “[When traveling,] seek out a cooking class from a local person; it’s the best way to learn some culture.”

Jackie: What is your favorite food to eat?

Ingrid: “I always go back to country food…arroz con pollo, tacos. Nothing makes me happier than a side of white rice with a fried egg on top.”

Jackie: What are two fast and easy meals that a teenager can make?

Ingrid: “Grab a coffee mug, throw in three egg whites, frozen spinach, red pepper and oregano. Whip it together and stick it in the microwave. After taking it out of the microwave, add some Tabasco and a tablespoon of parmesan cheese. Put it in a tortilla and you’ve got an instant, amazing meal. Also, anything with quinoa is always fast. I’ll see what else is in my fridge – I’ll add tomatoes, any herb, chop up some parsley, throw tuna in a pan. Mix it all up and you have a great meal with really no effort.”

Jackie: Can you list for us what you think are the three cooking utensils every teenager should take with them to college?

Ingrid: “A pressure cooker because in 20 minutes I have an all-in-one-meal, a good knife and an immersion blender – you can make any smoothie inside the glass.”

Jackie: You have your own cooking show on Univision, the Food Network, as well as multimedia applications for phones and mobile devices. What has been the craziest thing that has happened to you while filming live?

Ingrid: “One time I was going on air live and we lost all power. I had to simulate the noise of the skillet, but it ended up being a lot of fun in the end.”

Jackie: What are some themes or party ideas you have liked the most that would be good for our readers to try out?

Ingrid: “A theme from the dollar store and a taco party. For the taco party, everybody brings different fillers.”

Jackie: You already have several cooking shows, mobile applications, a Twitter account, a culinary line, what’s next?

Ingrid: “I am currently writing my third and fourth book. I wouldn’t change anything [though], I like everything the way it is.”

Ingrid Hoffmann currently hosts Simply Delicioso on Food Network and Delicioso on Galavision/Univision. She also has her own line of cooking utensils (manufactured by T-Fal), as well as two best-selling books: Simply Delicioso: A Collection of Everyday Recipes with a Latin Twist and Delicioso: Una colección de mis recetas favoritas con sabor latino.

This post is also available in: Spanish