The Kitchen of Jillian Rose Reed

Lucky for us, we got to spend a day with actress Jillian Rose Reed (MTV's "Awkward"), and she taught us how to make popcorn-themed cupcakes! We're movie fanatics, so this is the perfect call for a movie night with your best gal pals. And after Jillian taught this fun DIY, we got to sit down with her to talk about everything going on in her busy life!

It was so fun working with you! Thanks for letting us invade your home for just a bit... It was gorgeous! Tell us, are you secretly a Martha Stewart wannabe? Because your decor is spot-on.

Thank you! It really all comes from my mom. I grew up in a gorgeous house that my mom and grandma took a lot of pride in decorating! I owe it to her, she helped me decorate my entire apartment!

And you baked some delicious cupcakes! (Can you share the recipe?) We loved the fun take on the cupcake decoration – how perfect for the movies! Are you an avid baker? What are some of your specialties?

Speaking of Martha Stewart, I actually use her recipe for Vanilla cupcakes! After I make the cupcakes, the decorating comes in. I started baking when I was younger and realized I wasn't the best cook. I figured I'd start baking because who wants to show up to a girls night with a bowl of macaroni and cheese...which is about the best I can do! For me, the fun is in the decorating, because anyone can make a cake!

My mom started my collection of cupcake decorating books when I was younger. She gave me one every Christmas or birthday, and I probably have 10-15 of them now. The popcorn cupcake is my favorite. After making the cupcakes, I just use yellow food coloring to dye half a bag of mini marshmallows and then alternate a "buttered" mallow with a white mallow. Cut the mallow in half, then stick it back together (gives it a kernel look), pile them on the cupcake and you're done!

So are you very much a DIY-kind of person? Do you read up on any blogs? I love making DIY crafts and other fun things. I use Pinterest..I get a lot of my ideas from there. Last Halloween I threw an entire DIY Halloween party with tips and tricks from Pinterest!

What are some other things you enjoy pursuing in your downtime… assuming you have any while on filming schedule! I like to exercise! I also spend a lot of time with my family and friends. We enjoy hanging out and going out to eat!

So you're on MTV's "Awkward!" It is, of course, a very dramatic show. Do you think your life is nearly comparable to the show's many twists and turns? Sometimes! Obviously, since were on TV, everything is a bit more exaggerated but I think we do a really good job of mirroring what a real high school experience was like. I can't say my life has as many twists and turns now, but it probably did when I was 16!

What’s the next step in your future? What kind of role are you dying to play? Or what type of movie/show do you want to work on – horror, romantic comedy, etc? And who with? We all have those celebrity crushes! I'm in love with comedy, so hopefully in the future I can do more of that. I would love to do a comedic movie and work with people like Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, or Sandra Bullock!

Tell us what a day in your life looks like! What are some daily routines? Outings? Anything new that you’re obsessed with? Whether about news you’re following, or bad reality shows you watch but have yet to confess? Usually I go to bed super early, so I like to get an earlier start to my day. I try to go to the gym in the morning and then it's off to work! I can't lie, when I get home I usually find myself watching Bravo...I love all of the housewives!

When you were breaking into acting, did you face objections from family or friends? Did you have any doubts starting out? What got you through? I didn't actually. My family and friends have been nothing but supportive from the start! That's one of the main reasons I've been able to stay in L.A. so long. It's really wonderful and a lot easier when you have people looking out for you.

The best piece of advice anyone has ever given you…? The best advice I've ever gotten was just to always work hard and be the best you can be. I've learned that in such a competitive industry, it's most important to always be proud of the work you're doing!

Photographed by Jessica Castro Styled by Alisa May Hair by Erika Barquinero Makeup by Jeanne San Diego

Simple Almond Butter Banana Shake

Kathy Patalsky shared us this yummy shake recipe in 2011, and of course, we want to bring it back to everyone online. This vegan shake is to die for, and is a great breakfast starter!

Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups almond milk or soymilk, vanilla flavor 2 large frozen bananas, ripe 2 heaping Tbsps almond butter 1/3 cup ice 1/4 tsp cinnamon garnish: roasted almonds "Spiced Up" Version: Add-In 1/2 tsp ginger powder, dash of cayenne, dash of nutmeg

Directions: 1. Place all ingredients in a high power blender. Blend on high until smooth and thick. 2. Pour into glasses and garnish with roasted almonds.

Mini Amaretto Peach Pies

Coeur de La provided us an amazing peach pie recipe back in Spring of 2012. We can't help but publish it online and share it all over again. It's that good! Let us know if you try making some!

The Crust: a Pâte Brisée pie crust 2 ½ cups of flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, diced into cubes, chilled ½ cup ice water plus 2 tablespoons

1. In a food processor, combine the flour, salt and sugar. Pulse for several seconds. Add your diced butter, and process until the mixture looks coarse, about 15 seconds. 2. Next, add your iced water (it is important that your water is cold) slowly, and process until your dough comes together. Make sure that you do not add too much water as you do not want a sticky dough. 3. Form your dough into one ball, and then cut the ball in half. Roll out each half into a disc and wrap individually. Store for an hour in the refrigerator to let your dough chill. After an hour, your dough is ready to use. For mini pies, I use the top of a wide mouth mason jar to cut into my dough for perfect sized mini pies.

The Filling: Peach Amaretto 6-8 peaches, peeled, pitted, and cubed ¼ cup flour ¼ cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 teaspoon amaretto

1. Mix ingredients in a small bowl, being careful not to mash the peaches 2. Roll out one disc of pie dough, as this will be your bottom crust. To cut perfectly sized bottoms, I use the lid to a large mouth mason jar. Once your dough has been rolled out and cut, fit your pie bottoms into mini ceramic pie dishes. I found mine at Cost Plus. 3. Pour your filling into your pie molds. I like adding a heaping amount as there is nothing worse than taking a bit of pie and getting no fruit. 4. Now with your second dough, cut 3 inch by ½ inch long pieces of dough with a pie cutter. These will be used for a lattice crust. 5. Make an X over your pie filling with your cut dough, then begin to weave over and under with the other dough strips until you have a lattice. The first time you do this will not be perfect, but with time you will get the hang of it. Starting with mini lattice crusts is the way to go, as you only need about six pieces of dough. 6. Place pies on a cookie sheet, as they will ooze and make a precarious mess in your oven. 7. Make an egg wash with one egg and 3 tablespoons of water and lightly brush the tops of your pies, sprinkling with a bit of sugar if you feel inclined. 8. Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until golden brown. 9. Let the pies cool and … Bon Appetit