Starrynews

about me

I love to look at recipes, so 'Zaar is one of my favorite websites! It is always my first go-to for new recipes, followed by Kraft Food & Family and Cooking Light magazines. By far, my favorite cooking show is Everyday Italian, although I recently discovered Simply Delicioso, and I believe that may become a favorite!

A big thank-you to everyone who tries the recipes I post! I hope you enjoy them as much as my family, friends, and I do. (I only post ones that we have tried and approved )

Outside of cooking/baking, I love to read (especially sci-fi/fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction), spend time outdoors (hiking, swimming in lakes, and camping!), travel, and work on an excessive amount of craft projects-- pretty much everything from sewing, cross stitch, quilting to scrapbooking, stamping, knitting, and crochet (and I am always trying something new out!).

I recently got engaged, so now I am also busy wedding planning!

Warning: Tag games are addictive!











So are seasonal events...




Thanks for adopting me, FloridaNative!








Thanks for adopting me, A Good Thing!




My theme: International Hot Chocolate


My themes: Soup's Up! & Awesome Asiago!


Thank you for adopting me, Southern Polar Bear!!


























On Ratings & Reviews — I highly prefer the comments about people's experiences with a recipe over the ratings. I find them the most helpful aspect of the review process, and would like to thank everyone who takes the time to leave those comments! I find the rating system to be difficult to use, as we all know we have different tastes, so our ratings are pretty personal and aren't easily translated to someone else's experience, unless you already know you have the same tastes Reading the comments about what you did or what your experience was helps me to know if we'll enjoy it and other fun information, perhaps serving and presentation ideas, or good menu pairings.

Consequently, I leave as detailed as necessary comments in my reviews. I do leave stars, because I know that some chefs do like them, but I keep it pretty simple: Does this recipe make sense, in regards to ingredient list and directions? Does it make something that is edible for someone, whether it be my family, my neighbors, or my friends who will eat anything & everything? Was there any user error on my part? (we've all had those days, right? ) I only change 1* level for our taste preference. Sorry, I know that frustrates some chefs. So if you really want to know where I let loose with my preference ratings, you can check my Top Favorites of cookbooks - that's where I let our blatant taste favoritism run wild Top Favorites of '08

Favorite Foods:

My #1 most requested recipe is definitely Raspberry and Coconut Cream Cheese Spread. An invitation to others to come over is always met by, "Is the dip going to be there?", in reference to the Raspberry and Coconut Cream Cheese Spread. I just made it in the shape of a heart for Valentine's Day and a bloody hand for Halloween People fight over this dip. They show up before the event begins to get to it first, and have even actually hidden it from the others.

My other often requested dishes are baked Chicken Parmesan, Tiny Quiches, Taco Layer Dip, and Buckeye Bars (and Buckeyes). Chocolate Pie is requested for every holiday, and every Christmas requires the "Shoebox Cookies": Blarney Stones, Peanut Butter Chow Mein Cookies, Marshmallow Fudge Cookies, Chocolate Joints, and Seven Layer Bars-- these are all traditions we carry on in memory of my great-grandmother, who passed down these recipes to me. Our favorite recipe for the grilling season is Smoky Portabella Burger With Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Basil - it's been made three times in a week before, by popular demand!

My latest cooking interests are appetizers and soups. I really enjoy making a meal out of them! It has turned into an almost weekly experiment. So if you have any lovely appetizer or soup recipes to recommend, I would love to see them!

Eggs are my favorite food. I absolutely love ice cream, gelato, yogurts and sorbets! I also enjoy Tex-Mex/Southwestern, Taiwanese, Italian, Greek, and fusion cuisines, and especially love small plates selections like dim sum and tapas. I also follow a flexitarian diet, so I am also interested in meatless recipes.

http://