Melanie B.

about me

I am a pretty good home cook and a Food Network junkie. Every time I host an event or create a new dish, my confidence grows....I"m always testing new ideas and sometimes (I'm a nerd) that dreams in food.

I wish I had the nerve to make cooking my day job, but unfortunately the industry is not very family friendly. I am in the process, however, of writing a unique cookbook, but how long it takes me to finish is questionable.

Food inspires me in so many ways. I love to take existing recipes, fresh produce, and old memories from my past to make my own dishes and create new memories for my family and friends. I often host fun dinner parties, baby showers, wine tastings, family holiday gatherings, and other interesting get-togethers where the food helps us to have fun.

I also LOVE cooking with and for my son & his friends. I am always creating fun, simple and healthy after school snacks and dinners that go way beyond simple instant mac & cheese. Its also a great learning experience for my kid. My son loves to pick the fresh herbs for recipes from our tiny garden and at the age of 6 knows many of the plants by look and smell now. He also helped me to make bread last summer, which led to some internet research about yeast and the science behind baking. It was a really fun experience.

Overall, I'm known as that girl next door that LOVES to cook good food. I never go half way (or even only 100% of the way) and am very particular about planning menus...In fact I'm a little OCD about it...so please don't bring anything to one of my dinner parties unless you are asked...or its wine or beer




One thing that you will find about all of my recipes is that my seasoning measurements aren't always exact....I usually do it by feel and taste...so season my recipes to your liking.

Favorite Foods:

Lately I've been LOVING Mediterranean style-food and low fat/cal reproductions of other fun foods. My go-to favorites include Sushi, Fish Tacos, ANYTHING with Green Chilis, PIzza, a good steak or burger with blue cheese, Greasy Crispy buttery traditional Hot wings, ANYTHING with fresh beautiful heirloom tomatoes, the list goes on and on...

My favorite all time restaurant is T. Cooks at the Royal Palms Resort in Phoenix, AZ.

My favorite "guilty pleasure" is In-n-Out - Cheeseburger Animal Style & Fries Animal Style!!!

http://This isn't food related, but another one of my little "side hobbies" - WWW.melanie800.etsy.com