Hello everybody

When I think of fond memories from my childhood, I often think of helping my mother out in the kitchen.  I remember begging to bake chocolate chip cookies, whip up a batch of double fudge brownies, or to please! please! be the chosen one to stir, mix, whisk, peel, etc. anything my mom needed help with in daily dinner preparations. 

Even after I pleaded and insisted with my mother to make me a collection of my favorite recipes from home for my going-away-to-college gift, it still took me time to dive into the cooking world.  I often complained throughout my college years that it was too difficult to prepare 'fancy' meals for just one person.  The time committment, the thought of an entire weeks' worth of leftovers, and money were always the troubling and determining facts that inevitably lead to Ramen noodles, cereal, and pizza rolls week after week.

And then, suddenly, I started receiving cookbooks, recipes, and an entire book on herbs and spices from my sister and family.  What glorious gifts!!  My kitchen began collecting all the necessary tools:  pots and pans, a blender, crockpots, a rolling pin, wine glasses and a corkscrew, a knife set, a dutch oven, cooling racks, a mixer, an assortment of spoons, ladles, spatulas........  Just as I was about to really settle into my new world, I took a leap of faith and moved to Mexico for a job.  Sadly, I moved without all of my shiny, new kitchen gadgets.

I reverted back into a lifestyle of bland and simple meals.  After being in Mexico for four years now, I can see how far I have come in my conquests in the kitchen.  Even without all the accessories and often without all the right ingredients, I have made some fabulous dishes.  Every time a recipe is a success, my immediate thought is to share it with my family and friends.  I've started taking more and more pictures of the finished products and finally decided to start a blog.  A blog to share my cooking adventures with all of you.  Enjoy!!