Get to Know the 3 Gals

3 Gals and a Kitchen was created one evening after three friends with a passion for food decided to create a blog for sharing their favorite recipes along with scrumptious photos! After all, it would alleviate the growing problem of overloading their cell phones with constant recipe exchanges. We hope our friends, family, and the blogging community will be as excited about trying our favorite recipes as we are about sharing them with you. 


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Hello cooking fans! Food and entertaining has always been a passion of mine. My favorite part of cooking is inviting my friends over for a dinner party and decorating the table. My love of food started at a young age when I would watch my mother cook all of these amazing Turkish recipes for our family and friends. After sitting in the kitchen, waiting for her to pass little samples of what she was cooking, she finally allowed me to help with various meals. I am still amazed at how she does not have any recipes written down. Instead, they all come from memory. When I ask her for a recipe, it usually consists of me watching what she is doing and writing down all of the ingredients of her latest creation. 


Throughout college, the Food Network became a "must watch" for me after classes and before going to work. After college, we "3 Gals" lived within walking distance of eachother. We were always taste-testing one another's meals and party planning together. Many of my recipes are inspired by Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, Barefoot Contessa, Giada, Sandra Lee (for the nights when I am in a rush), Emeril, Ellie Krieger (for all the healthy options), and of course the Food Network competitions. These recipes are a great way to start, but it's easy to add your own personal touch to each recipe, making it your own. 

A little bit about me - I am first generation stateside, born and raised in Virginia. When I am not cooking I am spending time with my wonderful boyfriend and our cute little German Shepherd, Dallas, and our friends/family. I love photography and will almost always carry a camera with me. Playing sports and being outdoors is always relaxing after a long days work.

XOXO,
Esra


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Photo Credit: Kelly at 11 Sixteen Photography
My name is Allison, and yes... there are two of us, and no... we're not sisters. It always amazes me that people often ask us if we're sisters even though we've already introduced ourselves. As if our parents would be that cruel! haha

Alison has been my best friend since we were fifteen, and I credit her (and my mama) for nearly everything I know about cooking. Alison helped inspire both my love of cooking and the presentation of food. Taste is obviously the priority, but who doesn't love the way a really pretty plate gets you excited about the meal?! Multi-sensory food experiences are divine! On my honeymoon, my sweetheart of a husband just laughed and shook his head as I pulled out the camera at every restaurant to take pictures of my food (and the drinks).

Esra and I have known each other equally as long, but our friendship took off in college as we both struggled through long summers of internships together. We moved back to Richmond pursuing our teaching careers and bonded in those oh-so-hard early twenties - poor and hungry! We became the best of friends in an instant. Some of my favorite memories with Esra have been made sharing a delicious meal, as she was always cooking for me. One recipe I love is her peanut butter pancakes, which she will have to post sometime soon. As Alison finished up her last semester of college, the three of us reunited and began our little journey to "3 Gals." 

My hope for this blog is for you to realize how much we all learned from one another. If we can do it, so can you. We want to learn from you too, so please feel free to leave comments, suggestions, and words of wisdom. Thank you a million times over for following!


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Hi, I’m Alison J. - the 3rd Gal!  I am a true Richmonder, born and raised in this fantastic city.  I’ve lived here all my life, besides the time I spent away at college in Farmville and Clemson - Go Tigers!  If I could describe my life to you in 3 words, they would be: Family, Friends and Food! 

Like they say “Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.”  My mom and dad are simply the best parents any daughter could ask for.  They have always been beyond supportive of me and my passion for cooking.  I grew up in the kitchen with my mom, Granny & Nannie Mae.  My roots are in Martinsville, VA and thus I’ve been raised on the best Southern food you’ve ever put in your mouth!  My Poppy was a cook in the Army, and has been such an inspiration to me over the years.  He has always had a garden, so we never enjoyed a holiday dinner without his green beans, corn, and peaches or cherries in a cobbler.  My Uncle Gerald and I have had so much fun whipping up holiday dishes over the years.  He smokes BBQ that’s so good, it’ll make ya wanna slap your mama! :)  My brother, one of the best taste-testers around, has also become quite an accomplished little cook himself.   I wish that I had more time in the kitchen with all of my cousins – old and soon-to be! I have a blast cooking with AND for my friends and family!  As they can all attest, I could talk about food and recipes all day long!  So, a big thank you for putting up with me over the years!  I cherish each one of you.

To me, there’s nothing better in life than sitting around a family dinner table over a great meal telling stories and making memories.  In just about a year I will be marrying my best friend.  He is the joy of my life and my favorite partner in the kitchen.

I am so thrilled to be able to share with you one of my 3 passions in life – food!  I hope that you enjoy the recipes and stories that we post.

Thank you for following our blog!   
Alison J.
 

xoxo,
3 Gals

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