About Me

Cooking has always been my favorite thing to do. I cooked my first full meal at the age of 8; pork chops, gravy (a little lumpy), mashed potatoes and canned corn. Since that time I feel I have been joined at the hip with a stove and cooking utensils.

I own about 100 cookbooks and love them all. When I am stressed I get one of my cookbooks and lose myself in recipes. I am a cook who has always put my own spin on any recipe. I have cooked so much that every recipe I can see beyond what is there and add or detract or make figure friendly.

I love to eat at Italian restaurants. My other favorite restaurant is what would be called a "Diner, Drive-in or Dive." We have found some of the best dishes at these type of restaurants. I refuse to eat at a restaurant that when you are through eating you practically need to take out a loan to pay the check. I do not care who the chef is, there is a limit to price.

I am passionate about shopping for food. I love the vegetable department with the multitude of fruits, veggies, and colors. I always start my idea for a meal with the vegetables and I love to include fruit in my desserts.

Cheese is another one of my passions. I love to shop in a good cheese shop and then go to a good wine shop and purchase the perfect wine for the cheese.

I now live in Tracy, CA and visit Olympia, WA. I have daughters and grandchildren in both states.

After working from the age of 14 to age 58 I retired and now spend most of my time with family and friends, as well as being "granny nanny" to my youngest two grandchildren.

I love to cook with pasta and the dishes that everyone asks me to make are Tamale Pie or Potato Salad.