Foodie in New York

Winner of ABC's Great American Baking Show

MEET VALLERY

Hello Fellow Foodies! You may recognize me as the winner from abc's Season 3 of the Great American Baking Show! I'm a full-time foodie, traveler, attorney, and lover of life! I'm thrilled to share snippets of my life with you through this blog--from my favorite holiday recipes to exciting voyages abroad. READ MORE

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@FOODIEINNEWYORK

Chocolate shortbread cookies drizzled with chocolate, flaky coconut and toasted pecans 😋.

Mood. // It’s Friday. The end of my first full week of working for myself full time. // I took this pic in Costa Rica three years ago. It reminds me of pure bliss and peace, and is exactly what I’m craving right now. I’m still trying to find that balance between working hard & self-care. #Mood

One lesson that I’ve learned this year is that I can’t control things happening around me, but I have absolute control over my own actions. Knowing that I’m “all in” and giving it my best for each thing I bake and recipe I develop gives me peace and keeps me grounded. #MindsetIsEverything #KeepMovingForward (Quote by Harry Golden)

Savory Fig Tart // Rustic tart dough topped with fresh #figs, goat cheese, honey & thyme. The warm, baked figs are busting with flavor, complemented by tangy goat cheese crumbles & fresh thyme sprigs. Recipe is on the blog here: https://www.foodieinnewyork.com/home-main/2016/09/fig-tarts-with-goat-cheese-honey

Banana Bread // Super moist banana bread topped with a vanilla bean glaze and crushed pistachios 😋

Fudgy Dark Chocolate Brownies with Flaky Sea Salt 🍫 // I had total envy after seeing the ridiculous brownies @jesseszewczyk made, so I decided to make some too! These decadent and rich brownies were my contribution to the barbecue yesterday. And everyone looooved them. They were full of flavor and the texture was the perfect chewy fudge without being dense and heavy. Comment below if you’d like me to share the recipe!

This pic is from exactly a year ago on my 32nd birthday 🎂! I had a great day wine tasting, but I was in a rut. Personal relationships were spiraling south, and I was facing a creative block with blogging. I was really hard on myself. It was halfway into 2017, and I felt like I had nothing to show for it.
***
But thankfully, despite my slow start to 2017, I was able to reap what I had sown in 2016. It was literally the day after my birthday when I connected with a casting director for the great American baking show. And in spite of the show‘s fate, year 32 was one for the record books 🙌🏾. I quit my job, presented at the James Beard awards, and appeared on several other national television shows! ***
Now I think differently when I find myself at one of life’s pauses. I know that opportunity sometimes needs a little bit of space to fully present itself. I am so ready for 33! (And more pics from my bday celebration on IG stories!)

Grilled salmon skewers with lemon// I marinated cubes of wild caught salmon in fresh dill, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil before grilling. These kebabs are perfect for a summer barbecue! Recipe is on my blog here:
https://www.foodieinnewyork.com/home-main/2016/07/grilled-salmon-skewers-with-lemon #LemonsMakeEverythingBetter

I often find this mantra running through my head: “Do what you can with what you have.” Whether its making a complicated recipe under time constraints, or navigating the exciting (albeit uncertain) place I now find myself, I choose to work with what I have and work towards what I want to achieve. I don’t have to have it all figured out. I know the kinks I’m experiencing will work themselves out as long as I continue to press forward.

Blackberry-Açaí Smoothie Bowl// A lot of people have asked me how I got started on social media. I started by creating things I love to eat, like smoothies, and taking pictures of them. I ate smoothies every day for at least five years, so it was easy to capture them and share them on @Instagram. I graduated to smoothie bowls—thicker and sprinkled with beautiful toppings. Even when I’m not posting them on Instagram, I still love smoothies! The point is, just #StartSomewhere. You’ll figure out the details along the way! #DoWhatYouLove

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@foodieinnewyork

Chocolate shortbread cookies drizzled with chocolate, flaky coconut and toasted pecans 😋.

Mood. // It’s Friday. The end of my first full week of working for myself full time. // I took this pic in Costa Rica three years ago. It reminds me of pure bliss and peace, and is exactly what I’m craving right now. I’m still trying to find that balance between working hard & self-care. #Mood

One lesson that I’ve learned this year is that I can’t control things happening around me, but I have absolute control over my own actions. Knowing that I’m “all in” and giving it my best for each thing I bake and recipe I develop gives me peace and keeps me grounded. #MindsetIsEverything #KeepMovingForward (Quote by Harry Golden)

Savory Fig Tart // Rustic tart dough topped with fresh #figs, goat cheese, honey & thyme. The warm, baked figs are busting with flavor, complemented by tangy goat cheese crumbles & fresh thyme sprigs. Recipe is on the blog here: https://www.foodieinnewyork.com/home-main/2016/09/fig-tarts-with-goat-cheese-honey

Banana Bread // Super moist banana bread topped with a vanilla bean glaze and crushed pistachios 😋

Fudgy Dark Chocolate Brownies with Flaky Sea Salt 🍫 // I had total envy after seeing the ridiculous brownies @jesseszewczyk made, so I decided to make some too! These decadent and rich brownies were my contribution to the barbecue yesterday. And everyone looooved them. They were full of flavor and the texture was the perfect chewy fudge without being dense and heavy. Comment below if you’d like me to share the recipe!

This pic is from exactly a year ago on my 32nd birthday 🎂! I had a great day wine tasting, but I was in a rut. Personal relationships were spiraling south, and I was facing a creative block with blogging. I was really hard on myself. It was halfway into 2017, and I felt like I had nothing to show for it.
***
But thankfully, despite my slow start to 2017, I was able to reap what I had sown in 2016. It was literally the day after my birthday when I connected with a casting director for the great American baking show. And in spite of the show‘s fate, year 32 was one for the record books 🙌🏾. I quit my job, presented at the James Beard awards, and appeared on several other national television shows! ***
Now I think differently when I find myself at one of life’s pauses. I know that opportunity sometimes needs a little bit of space to fully present itself. I am so ready for 33! (And more pics from my bday celebration on IG stories!)