I admit I’m obsessed with the kitchen and all things culinary. It didn’t start this way. I was a young bride and hated cooking! It was a job, a means to an end. I would welcome take out anytime someone mentioned it. Then, it started happening. My mother gave me her hand me downs and I looked at some of the items she gave me in wonderment and wondered “what in the world am I going to do with this?” I didn’t want to hurt her feelings so I took them home.  I attempted to cook “real meals” from some of the magazines available at the time and felt good when my family enjoyed the meal, which led to me attempting to experiment in the kitchen.

From that point on, the illness grew. I bought my first expensive piece of cookware and I was hooked. I started collecting cookbooks, which led to the purchase of a cooking software to keep all my recipes organized and searchable. Fast forward to the long drives to a cooking store sale, a farmers market, a cookbook signing, or a going out of business sale which might or might not having something cooking related.

My family has resigned themselves to my sickness. Actually they are embracing it now. They will tease me relentlessly that “you need that” when there quite frankly isn’t anything I NEED for the kitchen. Want would be the better word. The glossy advertisements started with Williams Sonoma and blossomed from there to everything culinary including the black and white newsletters from private farms who sell specialty potatotes. I now have lists of websites selling specialty foods and spices which I continue to add to often.

I love all things food from the basic burger to bananas foster. I feel like as long as you start with fresh ingredients even a burger can be amazing. I think the second most important ingredient is who enjoys the meal with you. I love to cook for my family and look around at them smiling when they eat homemade scalloped potatoes . They look like they have had a religious experience. Everyone closes their eyes with the first bite. It doesn’t need to be gourmet in my opinion. Although I love spending half a day concocting some elaborate meal, I also love the nights when we have fresh Rockfish with garlic and butter and some fresh asparagus. The company makes the meal complete!

So I’m writing this blog for the obsessed like me, but also for that young girl I used to be. Learning to love to cook was as much a process as learning to cook itself. The recipes are only a road map, feel free to detour at any time! Add your own flair, style and creativity and the kitchen becomes a great escape. I welcome your thoughts, recipes, mistakes, and triumphs!

Let’s share the one things that binds us all together.

Food!