Pinot Grigio

about me

About me - I'm a Mom to 3 kids (a toddler, a pre-schooler, and a college student) and 1 husband! I love to cook for my family but they are picky! Well, my husband will eat almost anything but sometimes gives me the "look" after I tell him what we're having. I eat fish, but not any meat so to keep it simple, I mainly cook Vegetarian at home.

Favorite Cookbooks - too many to list, but right now I'm really liking Simple Chinese Cooking by Kylie Kwong, Family Style & Barefoot in Paris by Barefoot Contessa, & Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison.

Passions - Food in general. I'm always thinking about what I'm going to make or eat next. I love cooking with fresh ingredients - organic or natural if possible. I'm a label reader. I want to know what I'm eating & where it was made. I love getting my kids involved in the kitchen & trying new recipes. I want my kids to see how fun cooking can be.

Pet peeves - Waking up to dirty dishes in the kitchen, wasted food, high fructose corn syrup, gelatin, and ingredients that I have no idea what they are. Also whiners and complainers. And trends in food labeling - first it was fat free, then low-carb and now no trans-fat! Enough already!

What I do for fun - I read cookbooks & travel books. I love to plan special meals & vacations with my family. My favorite place to vacation is Walt Disney World. I also like to window shop on-line. I'm a bargain hunter & I hardly ever buy anything if it's not on sale.

Where I live - Originally from Upstate NY, we currently live outside Tokyo, Japan but have lived all over and have a special fondness for Maryland crab cakes, British pub grub, Ledo Pizza, cheese curds, Labatt's Blue & Scrumpy Jack cider.

Favorite Foods:

Favorite cuisines - Italian, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Tex-Mex, California & Pacific Northwest cuisine, Bistro-style Vegetarian, New England Seafood & good old American comfort foods!

Ingredients I love - garlic, basil, artichokes, olives, capers, beans, mushrooms, shallots, chilis, cashews & macadamias, bananas, cheese, wine, beer, Old Bay, vanilla & real maple syrup.

Ingredients I avoid - cilantro, raw onion & celery, lard, bouillon cubes, cake mix, canned soup, food dye, gelatin, margarine & shortening.

Favorite dishes - Lobster, Fried Scallops, Grilled Salmon, Crab Cakes, Fried Calamari, Nachos, Pizza, Thai & Indian Curries, Drunken Noodles, Stir-fries, Salads, Eggplant Parmesan, Mac & Cheese, Fish & Chips, French Onion Soup, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Cheesecake, Toll House Cookies & Chocolate Fudge.

My Weaknesses - Diet Coke, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Heinz ketchup, cinnamon rolls, fried food, cheese fries, & warm bread of any type!

Dishes I Receive the Most Requests to Make - Vegetarian chili, Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza, Nachos, and Vegetable Stew with Dumplings.

My Dream Meal - a simple baked stuffed lobster & a bottle of wine at a little New England restaurant - or brunch made by my kids with help from their Dad - don't forget the champagne cocktail!

Favorite Restaurant - Roy's Hawaiian Fusion (worldwide), Mealey's (in Maryland), Eddie's and Spaghetti Factory (Upstate NY), and Ghandi here in Japan.

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