Debaylady

about me

I, like all of you, just love reading recipes, dreaming how they will actually taste, and selecting those special recipes that prompt me to prepare them. The best part, though, is the thrill of cooking, relishing the delicious smells, and then comes the big event - tasting, eating, sharing, and making memories for loved ones! It gives me great pleasure to know that when I have family meals I am carrying on a tradition of all the women before me in our families. Both my mother and MIL were excellent cooks. My Mom is still living and in her 90's; she is legally blind and living in an assisted living retirement center nearby. My Mom didn't want anyone in the kitchen with her when she was preparing meals, so I didn't know much about cooking when I got married. I knew some from taking Home Ec in H.S. but not much. My husband's grandmother lived across the street from us. Everyday after teaching school I would walk over and tell her what I had to cook. She would tell me how to prepare it, thank goodness! She truly was the best cook in the family! I have all her old hand-written recipes and I treasure them! My husband was thankful! I have been blessed to have had the benefit of knowing other many wonderful friends and family members who cooked some pretty amazing meals in their kitchens. Did they share those recipes? Yes, they did! Well, maybe not all of them. I fondly remember an older cousin who lived around the corner from us. They didn't have children and she really loved me. We sometimes would make cakes, cookies, and various candies together for Christmas and Easter. She had the patience and the ability to make fancy desserts. If you had someone in your life who was a kitchen mentor like that, you will be able to retrieve your marvelous memories too! Because you love cooking as much as I do, in time I will be sharing recipes with you! Some other information about me is that I retired from another love of mine -that of teaching elementary students 13 years ago. Oh, I did do something to keep me busy for a few years. I have many wonderful memories from my home party demonstrating days with the Homemaker's Idea Company based in Chicago. Selling home decorating and home organizing items earned us a free vacation every year to various beautiful and warm destinations during the colder winters. I also worked part-time in a local jewelry store. All that is behind me now as my husband and I are enjoying our retirements. Don't ask how old I am cause I won't say except to tell you I will always be "Forever Young!" Since we live in a coastal town we are blessed to have an abundance of many many fine restaurants. For fun we like to try dining in one that is new to us and also to patronize the old regular ones. I have so many cookbooks, but a favorite of mine is one I purchased in Ocean City, MD at the old Life Saving Station. It has several family members older recipes. My great grandmother's Oyster Stew is so dear to me as I didn't have any of her recipes. I will share it as I have never come across any other like it. We really look forward to her oyster stew! Since I am a 7 year breast cancer survivor, I am passionate about helping to raise funds and awareness for the cause. Our local Curves has worked diligently every year to raise funds for breast cancer. All the local businesses and restuaranteurs happily give gift certiciates for us to auction for the cause - they are most generous! I live in a development and we have a team for the local "Relay for Life." Last year we published a cookbook of the residents' favorites. This year we had to reorder more!

Favorite Foods:

I can't say that I have a favorite dish to cook as I truly enjoy being in the kitchen cooking anything! But I do love to bake - especially when it snows! My dear FIL knew when I was teaching and we were off because of the snow that he would get his raisin or mincemeat pie! Of course now we rarely get snow anymore, but that doesn't stop me from baking!

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