Velouria

about me

My DH Jack, our 3 year-old daughter Elise and I are originally from Southern California but are now living in the beautiful Willamette Valley in Oregon. Since we've always loved camping and fishing, we're in heaven here in the Pacific Northwest. We even love all the rain!

I have a B.A. in English and taught elementary school in Los Angeles for five years, but I've been staying home with my daughter since she was born.

I enjoy cooking and reading about food. As my husband settles in for the night with a thrilling mystery novel, I lug a 500 page cookbook to bed with me for some light reading. My cookbook collection is ever-growing, much to my husband's dismay, but I just can't stop myself. Well, as I should remind him, at least he benefits from my cookbook compulsion! That's another great thing about this site: I've found so many great recipes here that I really don't need to buy any more cookbooks! (Though I know I will. That's the nature of addiction.)

Other things I enjoy other than food are movies, reading, watercolor painting, languages and linguistics (yes, I get excited about etymology!), music/singing (I've belonged to several Church and university choirs), and camping.

I'm ashamed to say that I have many pet peeves. Here are just a few: people who talk loudly on their mobile phones in public places, people who talk on their mobile phones while driving (or trying to drive anyway), people who are rude to restaurant and retail workers, people who are downright cruel in their Zaar recipe reviews ("wouldn't feed it to my dog", etc.), just rude people in general!

I'm currently on here looking for recipes for fresh vegetables and fruits. I've recently become a member in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), so every week I get a fresh bag of organic produce from a local farm. Some of the produce is new to me, so I've come to Zaar to figure out what to do with it. It's incredible how much better fruits and vegetables taste when they're straight from the farm! I also get fresh eggs from a nearby farm, and they taste so much better than supermarket eggs. It also feels great to support our community farmers.

Favorite Foods:

I have too many favorites to list. I love trying different ethnic/regional cuisines, and when we travel we like to try local cuisines. But since my parents are from Mexico, and I grew up eating authentic Mexican food, I have to say it's my favorite these days. I also have a passion for pasta (I could probably eat it every day), fish & shellfish, cheese (actually, dairy products in general), and sweets/desserts!

The only foods I can think of that I don't care for are most offal (exception: I do eat "menudo", which has tripe) and black licorice candy. Not too crazy about sushi either. I like my fish cooked.

http://www.myspace.com/velouria2000