After that initial post on CookKosher, Leah introduced Miriam to Victoria Dweck, the editor of Ami magazine’s food section, titled Whisk.
“Victoria hired Miriam right away on the condition that she buys a proper camera to take photos,” said Leah. “The rest is history. We’re great friends and she does an amazing job every time.”
Since the start of TOAOC two years ago, Miriam estimates that she has close to 200 original recipes on the site.
Developing recipes can be a varied process for Miriam, who finds that sometimes they take effort until they turn out just right, while other times they seem to create themselves.
“The Streusel Swirl Butterscotch Cake was something that just came to me,” admits Miriam. “I was dozing off on the bus on my way home from work and I literally dreamt that one. I woke up with the idea pretty well formed in my head.”
Other times, planned ideas just fizzle.
“I tried apple cookies once but the texture wasn’t working,” said Miriam. “Then I tried it as blondies and it still didn’t turn out right, so finally I scrapped it. Sometimes it just doesn’t work.”
The inspiration for Miriam’s second most popular recipe was a sale on vegetables at the local store.
“Zucchini was on sale and I stood there thinking, ‘Hmm…what can I do with zucchini?’ I wasn’t in the mood to peel them so I cut them into sticks, threw on spices and baked them.”
And with that Spiced Baked Zucchini sticks were born.
“Sometimes it just happens on a whim,” admits Miriam. “But every time I make those zucchini sticks I think I should make them every day.”
Another of Miriam’s favorites is pretzel crusted chicken fingers.
“They are a crowd pleaser, easy to make and they are baked, not fried. What else can you ask for?”
Miriam’s goal is recipes that are fast and easy.
“I leave the house at 7:30 and come home at 7:30, hence the name Overtime Cook. I have very little free time,” explained Miriam.
Not only have Miriam’s recipes appeared on her own blog but they have attracted the attention of other media outlets including PBS Parents, Glamour, Babble, BuzzFeed, The Huffington Post and Yahoo Shine.
“I have had people e-mail me asking for permission to run my recipes and it is always very exciting,” said Miriam. “But the surprise was when my Healthy Oatmeal Pumpkin Pancakes were featured on Yahoo Shine. It is the most popular recipe on my site every day and thousands of people from all over the world have made it.”
Does Miriam have a cookbook in her future?
“There are no concrete plans yet, although it will probably happen one day,” said Miriam. “Right now I just don’t have the time for it.”
Miriam frequently gets feedback from her readers, one of the most gratifying parts of blogging.
“Someone once messaged me on Facebook saying, ‘My husband thinks I am such a great cook, but really I just use your recipes.'”
To check out Miriam’s recipes, pictures and more, visit her online at www.overtimecook.com.
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Blueberry Muffin Cookies
Yields: 3-3 ½ dozen cookies
By Miriam Pascal, OvertimeCook.Com*
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups fresh or frozen blueberries
2 Tablespoons flour (use only for frozen blueberries)
1 ½ sticks (¾ cup) butter or margarine
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons milk or soy-milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups flour
2/3 cup corn meal
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
Pinch salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 375. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or grease lightly. Set aside.