ABOUT ME

Cooking is one of my greatest passions... I love to cook because it lets me be creative much like my gardening and art...the presentation of the food is much like an artists canvas... creatively balancing the colors and textures of the various foods..
I find cooking to be magical and mesmerizing..creating incredible mouth watering flavors tantalizing aromas sizzling sounds..
it's very relaxing... therapeutic ...stimulating ...soothing to the mind body and soul... for me my kitchen is "my sanctuary"
I started cooking for my dad when I was 9 years old... growing up cooking was very regimented.... with a list on the inside of a cupboard door with a menu listing the same thing for every Monday...Tuesday... ect... to be repeated over and over week in and week out...perhaps that's why I have such a desire to always try something new something different... including many of the Austrian foods I had as a young child before coming to the states from Vienna when I was 7...
and other ethnic foods that I became familiar with while living in France ...Germany... and Italy
I have a cookbook collection well over 200.. that I read like other people read novels.... I also cook a lot not really using recipes exactly as they are ... adding my own ideas as I go along... a pinch of this a pinch of that... with plenty of tasting until it pleases my taste buds just right...
I love all my pots.. skillets..collection of " pans"... loaf...bundt..springform cookie sheets...jelly roll...and the list goes on and on...
I have several sets of dishes in different colors ..using them to best compliment the foods being served on them...
I love walking into my kitchen... turning on some music ( usually French ...Italian.... easy listening piano)
pouring a glass of wine.. . speaking of wine... never cook with a wine you wouldn't enjoy drinking....
as I go about gathering things from my fridge and pantry and putting together a meal... with all the chopping....zesting.. sauteing ..simmering..folding.. whipping..roasting ...baking ...ect ect....
some time ago my very good friend Linda told me I love to cook to "boost my ego" at first i wasn't sure i liked what she had said..but after thinking about it... I won't lie about it.. I think part of my love of cooking is ego driven.... I do love seeing family and friends enjoying what I've set on the table and hearing them tell me how good everything is... often wanting the recipe.... and leftovers....
I may never do anything earth shattering.. or see my name on a neon lit marquis..but through sharing my love of cooking i have also shared my love ...
To NOT cook is unthinkable to me!!!

did I happen to mention I also love to cook ...:)