Blogger Spotlight: The Baking ChocolaTess

This week, we're proud to feature Kim of The Baking ChocolaTess in the Blogger Spotlight. For those new to the column, every Friday, we highlight a member of The Daily Meal's Culinary Content Network, a limited group of bloggers who write about food and drink.

We look to this group of talented food writers for inspiration and participation in The Daily Meal, whether for restaurant recommendations or new recipes to try out for dinner. Our editorial team covers All Things Food and Drink, and we tap the CCN to keep up to speed on what is happening around the country and the world — from fine dining to home cooking.

Kim, the creator of The Baking ChocolaTess, is based in New Paris, Indiana. She loves baking easy recipes — especially ones that involve chocolate. She calls herself a "chocoholic," but also incorporates healthy desserts on her blog. Kim advocates for a healthy lifestyle, but thinks it's important to give in to sweet treats once in a while.

The Daily Meal: What is the mission of your blog?
Kim: Because I'm a chocoholic and obsessed with sweets, my mission is to share recipes of sweet treats, healthy eats, and throw out some random sprinkles of inspiration. 

How'd you get started with your blog?
Pinterest! I love Pinterest and recipes of delicious food. So while I pin, I go to other blogs and get recipes I want to try for later.  I have always loved baking and sampling afterwards, and I have been baking since I was a kid, so Pinterest basically got me inspired, and I found a creative outlet for myself.  Everything went hand in hand and I just went for it. 

What are some foods you can't live without?
Anything chocolate! I think I might die without it.

What are some foods you can't stand?
Raw fish and sushi. 

Which blog post are you most proud of?
Awesome Country Apple Fritter Bread. It was my first post that sky-rocketed on Pinterest and the blog, three months after I started my blog. It's still my most popular recipe on the blog, but Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies! Pure Nirvana! is a very close second.  

What is your biggest blog blunder?
It wasn't actually a blog blunder, but a Pinterest blunder. I was using pins from my blog and I didn't know that there are some rules to follow when you are invited to some boards. One particular board only allowed you to post so many pins per day. I would pin my recipes and other bloggers' mouth-watering recipes on various boards, not thinking about the limit rule, and pinned more than I should have. The owner of that board immediately blocked me from pinning to her board. It wasn't like I did it on purpose and it just freaked me out that I was banned. I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles, right?

What is the most memorable comment from a reader?  
One came from my Facebook page from Mikayla O'Neill, and it made my heart melt. She wrote, "Hi, wow can I just say how amazing your blog is! I came across it before and I hope to bake like that when I'm older! You are an inspiration! Thank you for making this blog!!!"

I never thought of myself as being an inspiration to anyone in that way, so it was amazing to hear. There are ups and downs to blogging and sometimes you want to throw in the towel, and this came at a really opportune time. I inspired her and she inspired me back without knowing she did. Sweet rewards!

What's on your cooking playlist?  
It consists of a little of this and a little of that. At the moment:

"Burnin' It Down" by Jason Aldean

"Kick The Dust Up" by Luke Bryan

"Smoke" by A Thousand Horses

"Love Me Like You Mean It" by Kelsea Ballerini

"Take Your Time" by Sam Hunt

"Sippin' on Fire" by Florida Georgia Line

"Blank Space" by Taylor Swift

"Bad Blood" by Taylor Swift

"Style" by Taylor Swift

"Sugar" by Maroon 5

"See You Again (feat. Charlie Puth)" by Wiz Khalifa

"Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)" by Mark Ronson

"Love Me Like You Do" by Ellie Goulding

"Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran

What are your favorite food blogs? 
Chocolate Chocolate and More, I am Baker, Smitten Kitchen, Six Sisters' Stuff, The Slow Roasted Italian, Mom on Timeout, Crazy for Crust, Pinch of YumShugary Sweets, Chelsea's Messy Apron, Ambitious Kitchen, Mel's Kitchen Cafe, The Recipe Critic, Lauren's Latest, and Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen. I could go on.

Favorite food apps?
Simply Pinterest. That's about it.

What is the best thing about blogging?
It's fun! I get lost in time, which brings me to the worst things about blogging...

Worst things about blogging?
There's never enough time in the day and having to schedule ahead. Ugh!  

What recipe are you currently obsessed with?
I love my Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies. I also love Taste and Tell's Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Filling and Raspberry Chocolate Buttercream. They are pretty divine.

What would even your most loyal followers be surprised to learn about you? 
I work out to Autumn Calabrese's Beach Body Extreme Challenge six times a week. It is tough! But I have to because I love food way too much and desserts are my downfall. I'm also going to be a grandma in early October! We're having a baby girl and I can't wait for her arrival!

Five of your all-time favorite posts: