Cook In Southwest

about me

I cooked my first full meal for company at age 6. It was pretty basic (steak, carrots, and toast) but well received. I think I have my Easy Bake Oven to thank for getting me started. If I get a break from time to time, I really enjoy cooking and baking. My favorite holidays are Thanksgiving and Christmas, because that's when I go all out and make a big feast. (Plus I really love the time off from cooking afterwards with all the left-overs available.)

I own and run a bead and jewelry supply business. That means I work 7 days a week with just 4 or so days off a year on the major holidays. You can see my online store at suncountrygems.com. (Check out the "more information" page and the virtual tour to see my shop as well as some of my recipes.)

Hubby and I live in the country in an alternative energy home, so power consumption issues keep me from having all the electric appliances possible. However, we are far from primitive (at least I have a microwave, slow cooker, food processor, and dish washer.) I cook with gas (propane) and really love it. We live at about 6,000+ ft. elevation, so high altitude cooking is a way of life.

When I was a teen, I wanted to be a chef when I grew up. I told my parents I wanted to go to college in Paris at the Cordon Bleu. They just laughed and said "sure thing, just how are you planning to pay for it?"

I ended up becoming a high school English teacher, but that was no fun at all for me. So, I floundered around a while, then ended up in the world of computers. For 20+ years I helped build the information super highway. Then in 2000 I started my bead business. I did both for a while, then left that rat race for the poorer and quieter life.

Cooking is something I enjoy sharing, but don't often have the opportunity to do so. Living in the country, so far from neighbors (nearest ones are over 1 mile away) it is seldom I get the chance. Hubby is my only guinea pig for new recipes, which I try often.

I'm trying to lose weight, so am always looking for really good food that isn't going to ruin that effort. I also try to find food that I can make in bulk then freeze for future days when I'm lazy.

Oh, and I also like to knit and crochet, which I do every week-day as I ride the commuter train into town.

Favorite Foods:

Chocolate (of course)
My favorite chocolate dish is a steamed torte made with semi-sweet chocolate chips. It's so rich, but oh so delicious. I make it only for the holiday dinners.

I also love custards, but rarely make them.

I dearly love a good stew, and make a variety of them often. The same recipe is seldom exactly the same, as I often will modify it to deal with what I have on hand or to try out an idea of an alternate ingredient.

I often try foreign food recipes. My most favorite is Chinese, but Mexican is very much a part of our regular fare, as the ingredients are readily available here in New Mexico. Lately, I've been trying East Indian food. I'm growing a curry leaf tree in my house to provide me with that ingredient, as it is kind of hard to get. The tree is very happy, but I have not yet harvested any leaves. (It smells kind of like rubber, so I'm a little hesitant.)

http://www.suncountrygems.com