Molly Yeh (pronounced YAY, which is exactly what we said when Molly agreed to this interview), is a best-selling cookbook author (Molly on the Range, Home is Where the Eggs Are), the star of Food Network’s Girl Meets Farm, a popular food/lifestyle blogger, and mother to two adorable daughters.
Molly grew up in Illinois and moved to NYC in college where she experienced the city’s diverse food scene. Now, Molly resides with her family on a sugar beet farm back in the Midwest, where they raise chickens and harvest their own wheat.
Molly's recipes marry her Jewish / Chinese roots and Midwestern upbringing in a way that feels approachable to anyone - from a hip Brooklyn foodie to a suburban mom of 4. We have no doubt that you’ll fall in love with Molly’s charm and recipes. Whether it’s a hot dish inspired by Middle-Eastern flavors (such as this harissa chickpea hotdish with our Fiery Harissa) or a new version of a classic Poppy-Seed Lemon Loaf Cake made with Preserved Lemon Paste. (get the recipe here)
Name: Molly Yeh (@mollyyeh) Occupation: Cookbook author, Food Network host, restaurant owner Residency: Farm in East Grand Forks, MN
What is your favorite smell? Freshly baked challah
What is your favorite way to spend your time? Decorating cakes and also sitting in my recliner while my kids sleep on me.
If you were an animal- which one would you be? A panda! Like pandas, I too am Chinese and enjoy quiet time.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? As of press time, my three-year-old has never seen an episode of Cocomelon.
What's your favorite restaurant/ cafe/ bakery? I'm about to open my own in East Grand Forks, called Bernie's! The menu consists of many of my favorite foods, so in the name of shameless plugging: Bernie's. I also love: Barney Greengrass,Breads Bakery, Kismet, Lou Malnati's,Mimi Cheng's, and Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse (of blessed memory).
What is your motto? The grass is greenest where you grow it.
What's your go-to comfort food? Buttered challah with salami
Top pantry essentials in your kitchen? The accordion pastry cutter and silicon spoonula.
Where do you shop for specialty food items? nyshuk.com
What's your favorite hiding place? The shower
What did you eat for breakfast? Granola, peanut butter, blueberries, almond milk... and two bites of a bacon cheese wild rice burger that I'm testing for Bernie's
Where in the world would you most like to live? Here on this farm in the winter, by a fireplace, with chicken noodle soup simmering on the stove
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Pizza Friday with my family
If you could collaborate with any person on a project.. who and what would it be? With figure skater Jason Brown on a pairs routine
What is your theme song? Anything from the Little Mermaid or Frozen because I am always humming them because that's all you listen to with a three-year-old, apparently!
What is your favorite New York Shuk product? And what do you like to make with it? Preserved Lemon Paste!! Preserved lemon pasta, preserved lemon loaf cake, and preserved lemon cream to eat on toast (all recipes in my new book!).
