Interview with Joanne T Ferguson of What’s on the List

One of our newest Foodie Friends Friday Party Co-Hosts is Joanne T Ferguson.  You may all know her as that Aussie gal from What’s on the List?  

If there is one thing to be said about Joanne after knowing her a short while now, she is full of life, ambitious and genuine.  She gives everything to her own blog and to supporting others as well.  I honestly don’t know how she finds the time to come visit and comment all the time! 

I am so thrilled to know her and her enthusiasm keeps me going every week.  Let’s learn a bit more about our Foodie Friend today! 

1. What is your Blog?

My blog is called What’s On The List 

The “concept” of my blog is we all “clip and snip” recipes, put them in a folder and say “one day” we will make them, but never get around to. I am now opening the folder and making dishes I never in a million years thought I could do!  It gives me great pleasure and a great sense of achievement when I can cross another recipe “off the list.”

The folder is my never-ending journey of fun-filled food adventures which I incorporate stories of my childhood in New York creating pseudonyms for all the colorful characters who appear in my stories from yesteryear and today!

2. How long have you been blogging?

I started my blog on the 25th, never thought of doing a blog and have no clue what to do, but I am very “computer saavy” and within a half hour, I had my blog up and running with my very first post awaiting “someone” “anyone” to read. It gives me great pleasure in sharing and learning every day food wise world wise through other people’s eyes!

3. What inspires you to blog?

My PASSION and ENTHUSIASM for all things food!

I am a VERY proud South Aussie who is PASSIONATE about supporting local businesses, local produce and I eat, sleep, dream about all things food related! It genuinely gives me a BUZZ daily!  I wish there were more hours in a day!

4. What are your favorite topics to blog about?

I love stories behind the foods and the memories food creates. I love being able to S-Q-U-E-A-L about foods and events as if I was STILL five years old!  I love to share these memories, keeping the people who have past alive, and of December – Christmas Day last year. I have.  Success to me is if I can brighten just one person’s day; that make me happy!

I also enjoy sharing my PASSION of local food, ingredients, supporting local and Australian businesses and Australian farmers; producers and business owners who are as PASSIONATE about their products, services and business philosophies in making a “real “ difference in people’s lives.

5. What is your favorite blog post you have written? 

While I cannot say I have a favorite blog post I have done, I can provide three;

not in any order.

#Homefresh Experience Crowns 1st

I was very “humbled, proud and honored” when Stephen aka The Dishwasher aka The Brand Manager/Owner and Chef Jean-Claude invited me to be a judge at this first inaugural event.  I was “in awe” of each and every finalist aged 4 – 14 and it was great to see such “enthusiastic food energy” with children of this age. Homefresh Experience is committed to getting children of all ages and families together in cooking healthy; making a different today and for future generations of Junior Chefs too! 

Happy 80th Birthday Mum’s Special Spice #Cake

In 2013, mum celebrated her 80th tribute post was very special for me as Mum’s Special Spice Cake is a 4th birthday smiling from the heavens above. This generation handed-down recipe!

What an “extra special” treat when two days before Thanksgiving (when mum would have been assembling her cake ingredients), The Three Week Christmas Spice Cake was written by Lorraine of Not Quite Nigella; whom I am a BIG fan!  I can STILL feel mum smiling down from the heavens above about how PROUD she is of me!

Lost and Found Dad’s Sinner and Saint Birthday #Cake

In 2013, dad celebrated his 87th.  This tribute post was very special for me as dad’s humor and life philosophy comes out through me each and every day! I can STILL hear my dad’s laughter and my dad meant and means “the world” to me!

I LOVED the story behind this cake with it’s history! I had hope that my LOVE for my dad shined through via my photo and recipe! birthday smiling from the heavens above too!

6. What is your favorite recipe/thing to eat?

I love foods “hot and spicy” and love all world cuisines; I am very adventurous (like in ‘”real life”) and will try anything once or twice!

I am a big fan of Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine and always look very much forward to what dish or feast I look to create in my fun-filled food kitchen!

7. Do you have a “signature” dish?

I don’t have a signature dish per se, but with one of my nicknames being FANG, I leave my signature on any dish I enjoy! I LOVE hosting a party, do a lot of entertaining creating unique themes, tying foods into the theme.

My “niche” is creating many mini-bite portions (tapas style dishes) for friends to sample.

8. Tell us about YOU. What are your hobbies, your family, etc…

I recently enjoyed celebrating 50 years of “living” life! My life has taken many twists and turn during the course of my life, but each person and event (positive or negative) has shaped me into the person I am “oh so proud of” how I turned out; and KNOW my parents are and continue to be proud of their daughter that LOVES to S-Q-U-E-A-L, skip in puddles and star gaze as IF she was STILL three!

My friends call my the Eternal Optimist as I know no other way and experience every day as if it was my last; letting people know what they mean to me and “loving life” unconditionally.

I LOVE my life, LOVE living in Adelaide, South Australia and Chef Georgio ((Make No Bones About It fame) is “a bloke in a gazillion” to me!

I have no time for negative people or negativity!

Food, writing, sharing, travelling provides the BUZZ in life!

I am EXTREMELY passionate about “all creatures great and small”; okay, maybe not spiders that surprise me at the most inconvenient times! lol

To me, success is defined by if I can touch even one person’s life than THAT to me is success; I have been very successful to date as I am always genuinely “humbled, honored and privileged” for the people and experiences that continue to come my way!

9. It might surprise you to know that…

I was thrown out of class on my “very first day”; told to pack my books and GO; this was all due to my leadership skills in organizing a “sing a long” when the teacher left the room! I survived 14 years of Catholic School! J

Would YOU like to be featured on Daily Dish Magazine?

E-mail me at tracy@foodiefriendsfridaydailydish.com and I will send you the interview! 

Thanks for Sharing!