A Passion for Cooking

Cooking, for me is more than just putting foods together that taste good...It is a passion, without being able to cook, create new recipe's would be like cutting off my arms. I love to watch people eat the dishes that I have created, there is nothing like the joy of making people happy with food.

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Hey out there, I know most of you are, like me, thinking about the biggest cooking day of the year, yes Thanksgiving is around the corner, and I for one am tired of the same ole same ole..............(being as I have cooked upwards of 40 turkey's in a week in past years.) SO I have come up with a plan..........I am going to dry brine my Turkey, but first I am going to remove the back bone, and break the breast so that my turkey is flat...I am going to put my sage cornbread etc. stuffing under the skin, as I am not a fan of, and have never done stuffing in the turkey, because by the time the inside gets to temp the breast is all dried out......with my turkey flat it will cook much faster and the stuffing will help to keep the breast moist. Wow so glad I have a plan, and a place to share it with all of you!! Happy Turkey Day everyone!!!!!!!!!

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Fall, I love fall, actually I think I love the beginning of every season, because with them comes the produce that I have been missing since the year before.

To me, fall is the beginning of my search for new ways to use the seasons produce in soups, glorious SOUP............!!!!!!!

Anyone out there have some soup recipe's that they love using "seasonal Produce/fruits" please post them, I would love to have them.

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I love to bake, and this time of the year when the cold starts to seep in, I start conjuring up ideas to play with in the baking dept.

Well, I have a recipe for banana cake/bread that not only I love, but everyone that has ever had it, loves it.......the recipe is very special to me, because it came from my Gramma, and everyone in my family makes it.

This recipe, as I have learned is extremely versatile, last year my BF wanted to make a pumpkin cake, so I got to thinking what if we just substituted the banana with pumpkin, and added appropriate spices, hhhmmmmmmmm....well it worked, with great results, and has now been added to the "go to" recipes for this time of year.

All this leads me to someone giving me a ton of wonderful apples, and I didn't want a pie......soooooooooo, hmmmmm, why wouldn't it work, really no reason....so I go for it, first by making a compote with the apples adding raisin, Cinnamon, nutmeg, calvados, vanilla, brown sugar, white sugar, and arrowroot to thicken, I cook it down to soft all the way through the apples, but still holding their integrity, made the base of the banana cake and substitute with the apple compote......results are in and they are good! I think adding some rich caramel sauce would take it over the top....However know one thinks it is needed, so I am out-numbered, and I still think it would take it to the level I would be satisfied with.

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Helpful Facts on holding prepared proteins:

There are different holding methods for buffet type foods, keeping this in mind while preparing a menu is vital to the end result for your clients, friends, family, etc.

For instance, if you are preparing fish, or a very lean protein, and it will be held in a steam table/chaffer environment, you need to have some form of fat to keep the protein from drying out, if you do not have a form of fat your end result will be less than palatable after a 30 minute period of time.

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Boy oh boy, have I learned a thing or two this month....I was told about a book (thanks cuz AM) called Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, written by Barbara Kingsolver, with input/experiences from her family.

I could go on and on about what is in this book, so one subject at a time...."SEEDS" who knew you should read the labels before purchasing seeds...the large Co. sell seeds that they have genetically modified GM, they also own certain gene strains in seeds, and farmers can be sued (and lose) if they have old seeds that carry these genes, and they plant them for profit......We as consumers need to get a grip on so much that is within our rights to object, with knowledge comes power, if we refuse to purchase from the large land rapers, then they will have to change or cease to exist.

I recommend this book to everyone, it is more than informative it is a great story of a family that decided to live with what they could grow, or purchase from their neighbors, or live without it for a year.

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Well Spring is in the air, "lol" this week anyway...here in CA we have been having winter one week, and spring the next for about a month. Anyway, the FMarkets are reflecting the spring with asparagus, morels, strawberries, artichokes, meyers lemons..the list will continue to grow in a few weeks. Now let us look at the few items I have listed above...nature knows what ingredients make perfect partners, paired with a few staples you have a multitude of meals that will not only satisfy...but nurture your health as well.

Eating what is in season is always fun for me. It gives my palate something to look forward to, as new vegetables/fruit start coming in to the markets the ideas are endless.

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