I have been working on and off, on my, “singles recipes,” that I have placed on this blog.  I originally did it for my fabulous friend in Vegas who doesn’t cook a lot mainly because of life style or the ability to break down recipe language.  Not to mention the unnecessary need to purchase mass ingredients,  that will eventually go bad in the refrigerator.

I don’t believe that there are simple and easy recipes out there especially for portions of one.  I will continue my journey, for her, so that she can cook amazing food just for herself.  I will create recipes with easy  terminology  and perfectly clear step my step procedures.

I am on this quest to help all single people who enjoy great food, but just need a touch of help in the kitchen.  Please comment with questions or maybe even recipes that you would like down sized for your cooking needs!!

I am very excited to see the new season of the Next Food Network Star!!!  I have been trying to get on this show for 5 years now, and I am still going to send an application in for season 7.  I see that the choices they have made give the audience a wide array of personalities.  I feel that I have picked out of the bunch the winner of the season already from just the season premier.  There are a few hopefuls, and also some who must be picked for ratings.

Having the passion for food is different for having the passion in front of a camera and crew.  The lights blind you, your mind races, and your words become non-existent.  Cotton mouth kills you within that moment, if your food creation doesn’t.  My thought is why do the contestants pick dishes that have way to many components to cook within a short time frame.  If you are going to cook chicken, fillet it so it is thinner and the cooking time decreases.  Not that I am an expert, but I have been studying the judges, there requirement, likes and dislikes.  There is a whole package that you have to have, and it has to be moldable within their minds.

I feel this process of creating a star from a reality style show, is amazing!   I plan on making comments throughout the season.  I am a die hard fan and will continue my quest to actually get on the show, until NFNS doesn’t exist anymore!!!!  Wish me luck!!

This will be the first mothers day without my grandmother. It will be strange and weird, and so many other feelings that I know and understand.  She was funny about mothers day.  She loved having the family together, making a great meal and sharing gifts of gorgeous flowers.  She was an amazing woman who surrounded her heart with her family.  We meant everything to her.

I am going to add to my blog site, wonderful recipes that she enjoyed as holiday meals.  Hopefully you can feel the love from them as you make them for yourself or your family!!  Love you grandma!!

This past week my Grandmother passed away very unexpectedly.  She was a part of my passion and sole for food.  We talked food, shared recipes, and enjoyed savoring the final product.  She was a country girl that enjoyed the fruits of the earth.  Growing her garden, and then preparing the fresh ingredients for her family.  We baked together, peeled potatoes together, so many memories flooding my mind.

I will be adding some recipes from Grandma to share with your families.  I hope you feel the love that I did and still do, every time I make them!  I love you grandma!  Enjoy your new journey!

I happen to have a very wonderful friend who lives in Las Vegas, who has inquired about me writing a cookbook for single people.  It seems like all books are directed to at least 2 to 4 portions or servings.  I have decided to appease my wonderful friend, who loves food just as much as everyone else.

This is a very exciting task for me!  I am not a Chef that uses cookbooks to make dishes step my step, but normally just for the inspiration of ingredients, and the essences of the dish being created by another.  I shall create recipes and place them here on my blog site for all to test run as they say.  Please feel free to respond with successes or failures, or enhancements that you may have come up with.  Who knows, maybe someone would love to help me bring this to print!!

Also, if anyone does know of a cookbook truly created for those who live independently, please share, so we can create a library of choices for those who love to cook and spoil the true self spirit!

I happen to have the pleasure of living in the beautiful Northwest, and let me tell you the weather was so amazingly fabulous this weekend, it has inspired me to brighten up my desirable dishes!

This past week, I was so taken by the beauty of the sun, the all the stops were pulled!  I sauteed pineapple with coconut,to be the bed for some amazing fresh basil pesto smothered chicken, which layed next to a balsamic dijon cold cucumber and tomato salad, fresh sauteed green beans, and to balance the joy of the colorfully fabulous plate, I created a strawberry, blood orange, and wild blueberry dessert, that was topped with fresh whipped cinnamon cream!  The glory of the plate, the colors and aroma’s.  The salty strength of the parmesan crisp I baked to scoop up all the extra goodness left on the plate!  What a fabulous moment.  I could feel the sunshine coming through the food as well as the windows!

Cheers to the beginning of spring!  Cheers to the glory of amazing food, already wanting to sprout in the gardens!

How are you inspired by the weather to create amazing food?

I was inspired by watching the movie,” Julie and Julia,” this weekend.  What an amazing look into one of the greatest female Chefs.  She started everything for us.  She had such a beautiful view on life, and food, and just loved to eat!!  She took in every aspect of the presentation, the aroma, the texture of what was placed in front of her.  She admired the product and nurtured it from start to finish.

Julie, was admirable to take on the quest of cooking and documenting all those recipes.  Putting her whole soul in to everything she made.  She found herself in those dishes.  She was open to letting go of control for that moment and embracing the true passion for food that Julia had.

Being able to have a voice through food is almost God like.  Being able to transport yourself to the purest of ingredients and taking them into a realm only touched by your soul.  Created to feed, love and caress the palates of those you love and adore.  Being able to stand in that moment of pure delight, as your hard work comes gracefully to the table for all to enjoy!  Picture perfect food, scrumptious and fabulous.

How is your voice heard through food?  Does it say love or passion?  Share your voice.  I would love to learn about how you speak through food.

I had the opportunity to go and eat at an amazing Indian restaurant this weekend!  The aroma’s, the lighting, the decor, made for an amazing overall experience.  Minus the hostess disagreeing with me inregards to my reservations, it was a very memorable experience.  The beverages were perfect, the appetizer was beautiful, sweet potatoes with crunchy bites of cashews, with a slightly spicy,  yet enticing dipping sauce.  The server was polite and charming, very attentive.  The meal with fabulous, curry coconut chicken with jasmine rice and julienne cabbage.  What an amazing combination of flavors, piled together in true harmony!!

Just to think about dessert, brings back a huge smile to my heart and taste buds.  Creamy but firm chocolate, oh so slightly topped with fresh whipped cream, and dusted with cinnamon inside and out.  Do not let me forget the accompaning friend on the side, which were to wafer thin but mouth water cookies.

I say thank you to all who participated in the production of this wonderful meal, and oh yes, I shall return!

So my friends we come to that time of year again for the huge Portland, Oregon Bridal Show (Jan 16th & 17th).  Very excited about this!  Each year all those who are inquiring about weddings, anniversary parties, sweet sixteen parties, baby showers and much more, come and file through all the amazing vendors, to find the best source to fulfill there party needs.

Today I am giving a great plug for my mothers wedding cake business.  Wrightberry’s Custom Cakes has been around since 1999, when my mother and I decided to take on this venture after I graduated Western Culinary Institute, in Portland, Oregon.  Sweet idea’s and sugar coated dreams began with nothing but our desire to create.  With my mother being a self and school taught artist, we decide to combine our talents to create works of art out of cake.  Who knew that now, 11 years later, she is still designing and creating some amazing center pieces for lucky couples taking the plunge! Carving and crafting birthday cakes and more, Wrightberry’s has become the hidden treasure in Oregon City, Oregon.

With a cake studio transformed out of a garage, my mother and father continue there drive and passion to create these amazing moments for hundreds of clients.  With hand crafted cakes, frosting, fondant, and sugar flowers, Wrightberry’s is the only place to get your cake.  Not being a commerical bakery, eye for detail is much more intense then of those who pump out cakes like a factory.

I believe it is a lost art form that is coming back.  People pulling back from the mass production, and returning to what made America great in the first place.  Made by people who created with there hands, because of there love of the craft.  You can taste the love that goes into the cakes.  You can see the patients and care and love of the craft that goes into each and every detail.

So, my friends, when that special day comes around, think about what would be the best way to celebrate.  Get a Wrightberry cake!  See and taste the difference!!

With all the issues with food these days, you sit and wonder if it is truly possible that you can eat healthy, or get anything good out of the food we choose to eat.  Like many families these days, we have encountered some type of medical issue.  Within my world I am finding that food still has what it takes to create a higher functioning system.

Our bodies need so much, and we are bombarded with so much information on what not to eat, depending on the week.  I have been looking at the health factors of just simple herbs and spices.  Who knew that a funny yellow spice like tumeric could help with cancer, star anise, or the power of cinnamon.  This may be common knowledge to sum, but not sure how many of really understand, how amazing food really can be.  I heavily suggest picking up the book called, “150 Best Foods.”  It explains the best of the best, and all the health benefits, and what nutrients comes out of each item.  This is the bible at my work for “Elite Care, Assisted Living.”  I am proud to cook with all these amazing items.  Fresh, beautiful food, that enriches the lives of the amazing people that I cook for everyday.

Your body is amazing, and by making the correct choices, we can keep this fabulous machine running on high for a very long time.  Keeping what you eat close to nature, they say.  Well, I very much agree.  I personally have been on a transformation myself, and decided to truly think about what goes into my body.  No more, “ok, this won’t matter,” or “just a few won’t hurt.”  When in fact, it does hurt, it does matter.  There are so many alternatives to having your cake and eating it to.  Just pay attention to how it was made.  Or, God help you, make it yourself, with fresh, natural, pure ingredients.

Take the extra steps it takes to create the most amazing meals for you and your family.  Think about how crappy you feel after eating a whole box of processed whatever it was, and washing it down with soda.  You know the feeling, like a cloud of sleeping powder came over you and sprinkled you with a sugar carb coma.  Been there and done that to many times.  It’s time to stop pointing fingers, and start thinking for yourself!!  Go to that farmers market, read those labels, educated yourself on wholesome, lower processed foods.  If you can’t pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t be eating it!!  Look and learn.  Read, read, read!!!  Knowing how you can enhance a healing process by eating the right foods, and using the right herbs and spices is so amazing!!  It probably wouldn’t hurt to have a positive out look on life, and take responsibility for your thoughts and actions, but,…… that’s a whole other subject!!

Start this new year out right.  Become more intimate with food.  Learn its ins and outs.  Find what needs to be in your diet to help you with what is happening with your body.  You always have a choice, are you going to make the right one?  Or, go for the easy out?