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Haylie Duff Shares The Joy Of Cooking In Her New Book! Find Out Her Best Tips

Grand Opening Of Kendra Scott Jewelry's Beverly Hills Store

Taking the time to cook is tough for everyone, but despite a jam-packed schedule, actress Haylie Duff takes pride in preparing healthy and tasty meals. This is why Haylie, 28, started her own cooking blog and now has a new book, called The Real Girl’s Kitchen, which unveils her favorite recipes and tips for tasty dishes that are quick, easy and fresh. She spoke to Star about what inspired her to write it.

When did you get the urge to write a book?
My dad gave me my great-grandmother’s cookbook, and it was right after I started my cooking blog. I found so much inspiration in it. It had personal letters from people she had met in her travels and handwritten recipes that were passed down through my family. I found a letter she wrote to a man who was a cafe owner in New Orleans asking how to best prepare the perfect cup of coffee in a French press. And he took the time to write her a very detailed response. I thought it was so wonderful — and that’s what I wanted my book to feel like, that letter.

What’s your cooking style?
My approach is very clean, simple, supertasty, indulgent every now and then but very balanced. I really encourage choosing healthy foods, but that doesn’t mean people can’t have a little piece of cake here or a pasta dish there.

Cover.The Real Girl's Kitchen

What do you enjoy most about cooking?
Learning as you go, discovering different things and being OK with messing up every once in a while.

Any cooking tips from the book?
Freeze green grapes, so when you serve white wine you can throw a couple of frozen grapes in it, and it will keep the wine nice and cold. Also, anytime I’m making a kale salad, i rub the extra olive oil into my skin, which makes my hands nice and soft.

What’s the key to being a good cook?
Go with the flow and follow your intuition. Don’t be confined to a recipe; follow your instincts and let the directions be a little guide. Have fun… and experiment!

Pick up this week’s issue of Star, on newsstands now, for Haylie’s Veggie and Yogurt Sandwich recipe!