Name: Kevin Dickerson

Hometown: Keystone Heights

Age: 20

Q:Who is your favorite chef? Why?

A: Alton Brown. He has fun in the kitchen and breaks food down to a science, so you really understand the food he prepares.

Q:What's your favorite dish?

A: Any kind of French pastry.

Q:What's your favorite ingredient?

A: Coffee.

Q:Do you follow recipes or adapt as you go?

A: I bake so I follow the recipe, but I sometimes add my own touch to it, once I'm familiar with the recipe.

Q:Do you watch cooking shows on TV? If so, which ones?

A: Yes I do. Good Eats, Chopped and Food Network Challenge

Q:What's the worst dish you've ever made?

A: When I was younger, I iced a cake when it was still warm - all the icing melted.

Q:Do you eat the food you have prepared?

A: Of course, but I like to see others enjoy what I prepared.

Q:Do you have any trade secrets that you would like to share?

A: If you're baking a cake and you've run out of eggs, make a substitute egg with ¼ cup baking soda and ¼ teaspoon vinegar.

Q:What do you plan to do once you finish at First Coast Technical College School of Culinary Arts?

A: I plan to work in a bakery until I can operate a bakery of my own.

Vegan Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup oil

1 cup soy or coconut milk

1 teaspoon white vinegar

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners. In one bowl, add dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt) In a separate bowl, add wet ingredients (oil, soy or coconut milk, white vinegar and vanilla). Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined. Fill your lined cupcake pan 2/3 of the way with batter.

Bake 15-18 minutes.

Icing

Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1-3 tablespoons soy or coconut milk

Directions

Beat shortening until light and airy. With mixer on low, add powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix until combined. Add soy or coconut milk 1 to 3 tablespoons at a time until desired consistency is achieved. Beat 1-2 more minutes.