I grew up eating healthy, good tasting food that my Mom cooked.
When I was about 15 I started collecting recipes from any place that I could find them.
Luckily I am a Virgo that likes to organize, so now I have 2 lateral file drawers full of recipes in categories. I also have over 200 cookbooks and subscribe to many food magazines.
When I decide on a new recipe that I want to play with, I use the recipes that I have in that category as a starting point. Most of the time I substitute some different ingredients because of my food allergies and also my desire to cook with less sugar and minimal dairy.
We entertain quite a bit at home and my husband usually prepares the main course. I prep for him and make most of the other dishes, which suits us both perfectly.
I like to cook with more precision and I have always written my recipes down so that I can recreate them if they turn out good.
It took me quite a few years of cooking from recipes before I became comfortable enough to change recipes and substitute ingredients. The longer I cooked, the more I became familiar with ingredients and combinations. When you get to that point (if you are not there already), you will probably be able to look at a new recipe and actually be able to “taste” the ingredient combination. This will save you time and the expense of making something that is not a combination that you would enjoy.
When I cook, my goal is to create food that tastes great even though it contains no gluten and minimal dairy. I also use as little sugar as possible.
I hope to inspire people to cook my recipes by making them easy to prepare and great tasting.
Besides making food for people to enjoy, I also create beaded jewelry.
I have always loved jewelry and discovered my first bead shop in 1995.
Many of my designs now showcase beads and pendants created by artisans from all over the United States and beyond.
I combine those with high quality natural stone beads and Sterling Silver.
I love living in Arizona (yes, including the heat!)
I bake mainly in the winter because it is too hot to turn the oven on much in the summer.
I am a homebody and feel lucky to be able to do the two things that I enjoy!
Actually, cooking and designing jewelry both follow the same thought process. When you cook, a lot of times you are creating a dish around one main ingredient. Your goal is to enhance that ingredient, but not to overshadow it with too many other flavors or textures.
I create my jewelry pieces the same way. I start with a focal bead or pendant then I decide on other beads that match and enhance that focal piece without overshadowing it.
I hope that you will enjoy my recipes and be inspired to try them!
If you like artisan jewelry, I hope you will enjoy my designs too!
Andrea
