Nicole Meyer of Roslyn has expanded her food blog into a full-blown business.
Meyer founded Nibbles by Nic in 2011, a blog offering busy home cooks an array of tips and tricks in the kitchen alongside healthy, easy recipes for the whole family.
“Instead of sharing everything behind the computer, I really wanted to step in front and do something with people,” Meyer said.
Now, the blog has transformed into Nibbles by Nic culinary events, where Meyer offers cooking classes for small private groups, from shower and party entertainment to team-building retreats.
“It’s all about kitchen confidence for the busy, whether that’s a 9 to 5 behind a desk, whether that’s a crazy mom running around with three little kids, or whether it’s just anyone who wants some help and needs a boost in the kitchen,” Meyer said. “I think that a lot of people struggle in the kitchen, and everybody has different reasons. We’ve become so busy as a culture, and cooking is just one added thing to the list that can bring on stress, so my job is to take that stress away.”
Meyer said she prepares a menu with two seasonal options for the event, and the group works together to help prepare it before eating together.
Guests are given a folder with the recipes and a few helpful tricks all based around Meyer’s mantra: little time, little ingredients and little equipment.
Each event is about two hours long, Meyer said, and she provides all the ingredients and kitchen tools for the classes.
Recently, Meyer introduced a new Take Five workshop, which simplifies every recipe to five ingredients as well as demonstrations with five essential kitchen tools and the five best grocery store tips.
“It’s OK to do a shortcut. It’s OK to buy frozen cauliflower rice. No one is judging,” Meyer said. “You’re going to get the same health benefits, and you’re going to save time.”
Meyer said during the event, the group will also discuss meal planning, weekend preparation for the work week and how to get the most out of the grocery store.
“Ninety percent of it is really planning because anyone can read a recipe, but it’s getting the whole act together by planning the week and building on that,” Meyer said. “There are 21 meals in a week that we’re responsible for, and that’s a lot of meals.”
Meyer, whose recipe for grown-up macaroni and cheese was featured on ABC’s “The Chew,” has also recently partnered with Whole Foods for some in-store demonstrations with her Take Five recipes and five key kitchen ingredients. Meyer’s Whole Foods debut is 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Whole Foods Lake Grove, 120 New Moriches Rd. in Lake Grove with a focus on mastering the one-pan dinner.
“I always say I want them to walk away with more than a cooking lesson or a class,” Meyer said. “I want them to walk away with a full experience — and a full belly is also a must.”
