Lauren Ash
Los Angeles, CA
This Canadian-born actress and star of NBC’S hit TV show Superstore has taken her talents to the kitchen during quarantine. Before the pandemic, she viewed cooking as primarily functional, dreading dinner prep after 14-hour days on set. Now, with a revised schedule and a renewed sense of excitement about the pastime, she’s totally smitten.
Who inspired you to get started in the kitchen?
I grew up watching my English grandmother cook and bake. I recently tried my hand at the traditional British “toad in a hole” in honor of her! Her Yorkshire puddings were epic.
What’s the best recipe you’ve ever made?
I baked a coconut cake from scratch for my boyfriend’s birthday this summer. The recipe was for an advanced baker, but I thought, I can do this! It took me hours, but I pulled it off. I’ve won awards for acting and I’m on a very successful TV show, but I swear that cake was one of my greatest life accomplishments.
Tell us the “why” of why you cook.
Developing my own recipes has become a creative outlet for me. It’s not actually that different from what I do for work. My background is in comedy, specifically improv. As a trained improviser, I make stuff up on the spot. At times it works, other times it doesn’t, but you take risks and learn to embrace failure. I’ve applied this to cooking.
Which ingredient do you always keep on hand?
I make my own veggie broth. I love being able to kick up any boiled starches I make, like potatoes, pasta and rice, by using broth instead of water. It also inspires me to whip up gravies and sauces from scratch.
I’m a sauce gal.