Well... Here I go. Writing a blog was one of the last things I ever thought that I would be doing. I am not much of a writer... that honor & talent goes to my daughter (by the way, there is a link to her blog on this site... check it out). Now, to be writing a blog on cooking of all things! I have always considered myself a good cook; however, I hated to cook. It seemed like it was such a chore... not only to make the meal, but to plan it & shop for it. Creativity in cooking always seemed to elude me. I had a few standard things that I did not need recipes for (pot roast, meatloaf, fried chicken, steaks & burgers on the grill), but most things I would follow a recipe for with NO variation. Well... all that has changed in the last few months...
As I mentioned in my profile, I have a favorite little store... "Olivelle". I would shop there every Christmas & special occasions for gifts, but had NO idea what to do with any of the beautiful & fascinating products in the store. Then, in late August, I just happened to notice a advertisement for a cooking class at Olivelle for sauces to serve with fish. My husband had gone fishing in Alaska last spring and we had a freezer full of King & Silver Salmon, Halibut, & Snapper. I had been preparing it ONE way all summer long and although it was good, it too was getting boring. So in desperation, I registered for the class. I was amazed at how easy it was to cook and use those WONDERFUL oils, vinegars, salts & more from Olivelle!
After that class, I developed an "appetite" for more cooking classes and to date, have attended 18. I did promise my husband that if I were to keep going, that I would make EVERY recipe at least once. I am a few behind, but I am keeping my promise. We have discovered favorites that I have made several times and a few that were not. Some, I have modified a bit to better suit our tastes. That is one of the exciting things... finding out that I don't have to follow the recipe EXACTLY! I CAN be creative!!
My goal with this blog is to share the recipes with pictures, prep-time, helpful tips that I discover, things that I would do differently, and the reaction to the meals by those who are being served. I will include side dishes that I served with each meal and whether or not we have left-overs. Also, I plan to pass along things I learn about different products, their health benefits or not so healthy ingredients. I will be giving ideas on how to make a few small changes in old family recipes to make them healthier and give you examples of some of mine. My plan is to post at least 1 -2 times per week.
One of my personal goals has been to cook & eat more healthily, so that will also be a focus. I am a label reader and I use organic products whenever possible. I will also be highlighting products that can be purchased from my favorite little store, Olivelle. If you are not familiar with the store, please follow the link on my blog home-page to their web-site. I am not, in anyway, affiliated with Olivelle, other than being a loyal customer.
So... the journey begins...
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