JeriBinNC

about me

I've had so many people comment on this photo that I have to give a shout-out to my friend, Brandy Williams. She took this while we were on a camping trip in September of 2006. She's a nurse by profession, but she loves to take pictures, and as you can see, she really has a knack for amazing candid portraits. This is the only photo I have of us that I really love.

Now, enough about her; let's talk about me! I was born and raised for the most part in Georgia. Since 1997 I've lived in the beautiful mountains of western NC, where I spend way too much time at work and not nearly enough time camping! I have a partner of 15 years (Lee) and 3 kids--2 grown and 1 teenager still at home. Lee doesn't cook, but she's my cooking cheerleader, and she and my son will always at least try anything I make, no matter what.

Camping is one of my favorite things to do. Other favorite ways to spend my time are doing beadwork, knitting, and making homemade soap. I should also admit that I spend waaaay too much time on the internet, but the bright side of that is that it brought me to Zaar! I spend a ridiculous amount of time here, but I love every minute of it. It's also has helped cure me of my pathological cookbook buying. I used to call cookbooks with full-page glossy photos my food porn. Now, thanks to all the talented photographers here, I can get all the food porn I want!

I love to read recipes, which most of my friends think is just weird. I suspect, though, that a lot of you don't think it's weird at all! I love to cook, but only when I want to. I also love to entertain and wish I had time to do more of it. I love trying new recipes. I was a vegetarian (vegan, actually) for several years, and that's when I got hooked on trying so many different cuisines. I still love vegetarian foods, but I do eat some meat, fish, and dairy/eggs now. I still try to keep it healthy and eat as little processed food as possible, but I'm not totally strict about it. Sometimes I want some good old junk food--I just try to make it home-made junk, so at least I know what's in it!

My pet peeve is willful ignorance. Grrrr.

Favorite Foods:

There's not much food I don't like, but Cuban food is my very favorite. My most famous dish (which I still haven't gotten around to posting) is called Arroz Relleno (Stuffed Rice--and no, the rice is not literally stuffed!) I like a lot of other tropical cuisines, too.

I also love the Southern cooking I was raised on, not just because I love the food but because of the memories and culture it represents for me. Oh, and I like to duplicate recipes I've enjoyed at restaurants, partly because I usually think I can make it better at home, and partly because I'm cheap.

Other favorites are Greek, Italian, Spanish, and Middle Eastern cuisines.

I'll have to add to this later after I give it some more thought!

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