FAQs

1. Who is the Kitchen Witch?

I’m Susan Smith-Harmon, the Kitchen Witch and founder of Weird Sisters Kitchen. I launched Weird Sisters Kitchen in 2020 as a way to share my family’s recipes and find my tribe. I’m dedicated to helping home cooks adapt recipes to suit their needs and create their own bit of magic in the kitchen. I’m a graduate of the University of Missouri – St. Louis. I live in Southwestern Illinois with my mother and official taste-tester, Norma; my daughter, writer and artist KC; a boxer-hound mix named Marnie who happily keeps the kitchen floor crumb-free; and a clowder of cats called Zoe, Penny, and Gus.

2. Where do you get your recipes?

Many of my recipes are old family recipes that I’ve modernized to make them healthier, tastier, more accessible, or just better. For instance, you will find several recipes for cake and cookie frostings. You won’t find any at Weird Sisters Kitchen that uses vegetable shortening as a base. That’s because shortenings used to be made from partially hydrogenated oil, which is a way to turn liquid oil into solid fat, and it creates trans fats. Trans fats are engineered fats (i.e., made in a laboratory, not occurring in nature), and they’re the most unhealthy fats used in food production. Trans fats were banned by the FDA in 2018, with some exceptions. Modern vegetable shortening is no longer made with partially hydrogenated oils, which is good. So most contain less than 1% trans fats. We do use some vegetable shortening in some recipes, but not when it’s a primary ingredient like in frosting. Butter, cream cheese, coconut oil, and other fats make a tastier frosting anyway.

3. Can I share or link to your recipes and articles?

Absolutely yes! The only thing we ask is that you tell people where you got it and link back to the original recipe on this website. That said, if you stir up one of our scrumptious recipes and claim credit when you serve it to your friends and family, you have our blessing. We won’t tell. We would appreciate a picture and comment on our website or social media channels, but you aren’t obligated to do so!  

4. Is the Kitchen Witch a chef?

Nope. I have years of experience preparing meals for crowds at family gatherings, in restaurants, and catering special events, but I did not have the privilege of going to culinary school. Maybe someday.

5. Do you have a cookbook?

Not yet. But I’ll let you know when I do!

6. Why do you mix philosophy and motivational messages into your food blog and social media channels?

I do it because everyone can benefit from a few words of encouragement occasionally. It’s because a good friend kept encouraging me to embrace my love of sharing good food and cooking techniques that this blog exists. Without her encouragement and love, Weird Sisters Kitchen would never have happened. And because I want you to embrace the magic of the world around you so that you can be your truest self and live your best life. Finally, I do it because writing those words and creating social posts allows me to prioritize seeking out motivation and affirmation for myself. If someone else benefits from them, that’s even better!

Feel free to send additional questions to TheKitchenWitch@weirdsisterskitchen.com. I’ll answer the questions asked most frequently here.