Actress and activist Jennifer Garner is just like you and me when she steps into the kitchen. Sporting comfy clothes (sometimes even her pajamas), the 13 Going On 30 star has broken all barriers in regards of elitist stardom. A Texas native (she was born in Houston but moved to Charleston, West Virginia shortly after), Jennifer emulates the feeling of sitting on a barstool in your best friend's kitchen with her Facebook show aptly named, The Pretend Cooking Show.
Producing cooking videos is nothing new for celebrities. Tia Mowry, Haylie Duff, Debi Mazar and Tiffani Amber Thiessen all have their own shows on the Cooking Channel. However what makes Jennifer's show so unique is the simplicity. No camera crews, no fancy lights, no famous guest. Just a recipe, a kitchen and Jennifer sharing her personal insights about the recipe on social media.
Take a look at some of the episodes she's shared already. You really can't help but smile when watching these videos.
Episode 1: Honey White Bread
A fan of Food Network star Ina Garten, it's fitting that Jennifer's first episode was an ode to the Barefoot Contessa. Baking honey white bread, actress Jennifer Garner gives her own little tips for making the white bread recipe. A Jen tip: Add the milk to the melted butter so the milk gets warm and doesn't kill your dry yeast.
Once the dough is proofed, you can can shape it into loafs or shape it as you please. Jennifer shares that her Mom used to make bread men for her when she was little. Following her mother's footsteps she makes her own for her three children. And let me tell you, the little bread men are almost too cute to eat.
Episode 2: Huckleberry English Muffins
Next up, Jennifer shares a recipe from Huckleberry, one of her favorite restaurants in Santa Monica. Sporting her cute pajamas, Jennifer starts the process the night before. She begins by preparing the dough, and while it rises tucks the kids in. Once the dough has risen, she cuts out the English muffins and lets them rise in the fridge overnight.
The small little stories are what makes her videos so heartwarming. Joking that she's, "not a pretty baker," Jennifer smiles as her homey English muffins toast on an ungreased griddle.
Episode 3: The Bagel Chronicles
Everybody fails cooking something at some point and Jennifer is no exception. She explains that she's tried baking these bagels three times before and only once has she succeeded. There's something almost endearing about her ability to joke about baking something difficult and encouraging her stand mixer with little pets to keep going.
Do the bagels come out? That's for you to find out.
Episode 4: Granola Bars
Most recently Jennifer stepped back into the kitchen to share her favorite Granola bar recipe, complete with a chocolate drizzle. Showcasing her love for making food for her three children, Jennifer bakes up the bars complete with oats, coconut, wheat germ, sunflower seeds and flaxseeds.
Can Jennifer pack our lunches from now on?
