Everything "Virgin River" Star Alexandra Breckenridge Cooks in a Day [Exclusive]
Alexandra Breckenridge wants you to know that the key to throwing a good get-together is making sure that you’ve got enough snacks and drinks on hand — which these days means lots of goldfish and juice boxes. Breckenridge’s house is often the “go-to hang-out spot” among her friends (and their kids), and she and her husband are known to throw down on the grill.
Though fans may be used to seeing Breckenridge play Jessie Anderson on The Walking Dead or Melinda “Mel” Monroe on Netflix’s hit show Virgin River, she’s also been giving fans a glimpse of her cooking skills on Instagram. Breckenridge describes herself as an intuitive cooker and often whips up a delicious dinner with just a few ingredients (in one of her most watched videos, she makes chicken tacos with homemade tortillas).
“For me, cooking is this creative outlet when I’m not on set,” she tells The Kitchn. “I can throw in a dash of this and taste it and say, ‘Oh it needs a little bit more of this’ or ‘What if I tried this?’ It gives me a chance to create something delicious that I can share with other people.”
Breckenridge’s videos have been a hit among her 1.2 million Instagram followers, and she shares that she’s often approached by fans who’ve tried some of her recipes. While that wasn’t necessarily the goal when she started posting a year ago, she says that it’s “been really lovely” that people are reaching out to share how much they enjoy watching.
For this edition of Cooking Diary, Alexandra Breckenridge shares her go-to snack on set, her favorite late-night foods, and three items she always keeps in her kitchen.
What meal are you most likely to cook on any given day?
My go-to is a fried egg sandwich. I like using fresh sourdough bread and pan-frying it with garlic-infused olive oil. I’ll top that with over-medium eggs and chicken sausage if I have it.
Is there a dish that you’re famous for among friends and family?
One is a roasted curry chicken. I also make this dish I call “PMS Pasta.” You just take pasta and fry it in a pan with olive oil, Parmesan cheese, fresh garlic, and red chili flakes.
It’s a typical Tuesday. Are you cooking breakfast? What’s on the menu? What about lunch and dinner?
If I eat breakfast, I’ll either have a protein shake or I’ll wait until around 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. and make a tuna salad and top it with celery, parsley, cilantro, or kimchi. For dinner, I’ll usually make a meal for myself and my husband using a meal kit from Garnish + Gather, which uses all local ingredients from Georgia. Or I’ll make something easy for my kids like burritos or cheeseburgers or pasta where I can slip in some zucchini and carrots in the sauce.
What are you throwing together for dinner on a night when you’re so exhausted the last thing you want to think about is cooking?
If I’m throwing something together, I’ll marinade some chicken in some curry salt or spicy salt and then air fry that and make a nice kale salad on the side.
What’s a cooking or entertaining rule you always follow?
I like to make sure that I have everything on hand I think people will want in terms of beverages and snacks. Our house has become sort of the hub of weekend hangs for all of our friends and their kids, so these days that means having a lot of goldfish or juice boxes on hand.
When you are entertaining, what’s a foolproof dish you serve?
When we have people over, [my husband and I] will usually grill smash burgers and serve that with a salad.
What cocktail are you most likely to serve at a party?
I make a Rosemary Maple Bourbon Sour that’s just a mix of whiskey, maple syrup, lemon juice, and rosemary. That’s all there is in it, but it’s amazing.
What’s an ingredient or product that you always cook with?
I love curry, and I also always have cumin, white onions, garlic, and Vegenaise on hand.
What are food items someone will always find in your fridge, pantry, or kitchen?
We always have some kind of cheese, pasta, and apples.
What food items are you willing to splurge on every time and why?
I always look for sustainably sourced meat.
What is your go-to snack or treat while on set, and why?
I usually get some turkey and cheese slices wrapped in lettuce. But on a day when I’m being woken up at 4 or 5 in the morning and I’m tired, I’ll ask for what I call a YOLO sandwich: a fried egg, bacon, cheese, mayo, lettuce, and tomato sandwich.
What’s your go-to late-night snack?
It’s a toss-up between popcorn and ice cream — or some PMS pasta.
Further Reading
Why People Are Ditching Their Seltzer After a Disturbing Study
We Asked 3 Chefs to Name the Best Ice Cream, and They All Said the Same Thing
Reese’s Just Launched a Limited-Edition Peanut Butter Cup, and It Tastes 4x Better than the Original
