How I developed a passion for cooking
I developed a passion for cooking because I have two sons who love to eat. As kids, they were picky, but their tastes matured. They are always so appreciative of a good meal -- and sitting with my family at the dinner table is one of life's joys.
My favorite things to cook
I've been on an Indian cooking spree for the past 2 years. My favorite fancy meal now is chicken biryani, but over time, I've learned some tricks that make Indian cooking much easier.
The kitchen tool(s) I can't live without
The number one tool I can't live without is a spice grinder (a re-purposed coffee grinder). Freshly ground spices taste so much better! The second tool I can't live without is my Cuisinart (actually, it's a KitchenAid, but it works just fine). My favorite fun tool is a Cuisinart ice-cream maker. I've been making delicious sorbets.
How I learned
Mostly, I'm a self-taught cook. I think that Craig Claiborne/ Pierre Franey's 60 Minute Gourmet was the book that converted me from someone who just read recipes and got dinner on the table to someone who was interested in cooking well. I still use that book a lot, although now I've branched out into a lot of ethnic cooking (starting with Mexican, then some Asian and now Indian.)
Advice
- More is not always better. Many cooks (and restaurants) toss exotic ingredients like artichoke hearts into everything. Whenever I hear the term "raspberry vinagrette", I think "uh oh, here we go."
- Think about the vegetables. In addition to Indian cooking, our other favorite meals are simple, grilled fish or meat, plus vegetables that I spend time preparing-- for example, a seasoned baked squash. Good vegetables are not only good for you, they add real pizazz to the meal.
