About me
I've always liked to eat. I am a Florida native; more rare than diamonds! Although I've had southern food all my life, my mom and dad were from up north - Wisconsin and Indiana. There's a big difference in northern and southern cooking, so my cooking is all over the place. My mom used to leave the farm to go to town every Saturday - so, I baked my first 'from scratch' chocolate cake before I was 12... while she was gone one Saturday. Oh my gosh the kitchen was DESTROYED. Mom got back before I could get the mess cleaned up, but she was so impressed with the cake that she said she'd clean up the kitchen. Actually she said, "I didn't think I had a chocolate cake mix". I said, "you didn't, I made it from this" and handed her the cookbook. She told me she'd never made a chocolate cake from scratch. It was excellent and gave me a very vivid memory. My next big memory is the day I helped my maternal grandma make the year's traditional Christmas cookies. I guess I was about 17? We baked cookies all day. And they are a holy terror to make, let me tell you! What a wonderful memory!
The thing is, I guess I equated cooking and baking with LOVE. It was one way my mom and grandmother showed they loved us all. And in my mind when I cook and bake, it is one way I show my love for my family and friends. No, food is not love... the effort and offering of time and energy is the love! It's all in the offering.
Because of the heat 7 months out of the year, I do most of my baking during the fall and winter. I love baking breads and rolls. I was introduced to the very crisp flat bread, Lavash, at the MGM Grand, Wolfgang Puck restaurant in Las Vegas. This fall I plan to try my hand at Lavash and I'm really looking forward to it.
I found this site while I was Googling for a "deli peach cobbler" recipe and found it here by cookeatshare cookbook. Of course I had to join.
May you always love what you do in the kitchen!
Cooking Influences
Mostly I've been influenced by my mom and grandmothers. They all taught me something wonderful about the responsibility of feeding a family and trying to make it special, nourishing, colorful, and delicious. And of course they each handed down recipes that I treasure to this day and hope to pass along to my sons... BOTH of them cook!!!
United States Chef
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August 3, 2011Glad you joined Deborah Anne. I hope you enjoy the recipes here and I look forward to trying some of your favorites!
