Culinary

Desserts – It’s in my genes
Both of my grandmothers were excellent bakers! It was natural fit for me to watch and learn from them and so I started baking sometime when I was still a kid.

The love of creating something delicious, the satisfaction from having someone smile as they start tasting what’s in their mouth – makes me happy!

Culinary Experiences – Not Just Food
Growing up when we ate dinner as a family it was much more than just shoveling food in our mouths. Rather, it was a time that we could share about our days, explore the topics of the time, and were encouraged to form our own opinions while learning from others.

1999 – When I realized that my mom wouldn’t be around forever and if I wanted to learn how to cook meals I should ask and learn from her, I did … in a way. She told me to start reading recipes and find ones I want to make and we’d go from there. Once she explained to me how I should avoid recipes with expensive only-use-once type ingredients the best advice she gave me regarding cooking? READ RECIPES!

This taught me not only how different flavors go together, the amounts needed, and learn the skills and techniques necessary to make that “OH!”

This skill I learned allowed me to start using dinners as an expression of my care for others. From Valentine’s Day dinners for those I loved (for those of us who weren’t in relationships!) to adding surprises to standard holiday meals.

Setting the table, arranging the centerpiece, designing the ambiance from lighting to music and climate. These are aspects of a culinary experience. Then there’s the fancial dishes you can make, from extravagant to simple with stops along the way.

Not every meal requires such a journey and sometimes it’s nice to just toss something easy, nutritious, and yummy altogether in as short of time as possible!

Regardless, this has led me to create online communities that can share and discuss recipes, meal ideas, substitutions and product suggestions, and guide how to cook for someone with allergies.

Little did I know when I started learning about cooking that it would save my life and so I am always willing to help people find that great recipe for something that can’t have something that’s typically in it without sacrificing flavor or using odd or hard-to-find ingredients.