- Ponderings: Italian Cuisine -

I heard somewhere, and I can't remember where, that Italians are quick to get angry and even quicker to forgive. To me that reads of a very passionate sort of people. I think that really translates into their food. The Italians have a real sense of family, and a real sense of life, much of which includes, you guessed it: food! Their food is simple and easy, yet some of the best in the world. The way they create with food is admirable, and I think that their reason for putting so much love into their food, so much soul, so much thoughtfulness, is because it is what they use to bring the family together every day. 

Now, I am not Italian at all as far as I can trace back my line (which isn't all that far, so their is still hope). No, I am German, Belgian, French, Prussian, etc. etc. But even with these roots, I do not lack a love for all food Italian! You know that restaurant...first word "Olive"? Oh yeah... my first love. But since my budget doesn't permit me to eat their every night, I delight in releasing my inner Italian into my own kitchen, sitting back, and waiting to see what happens. It pretty much hits the spot every time and never disappoints. That's the magic of Italian cuisine, your never sorry you ordered, and you certainly are never sorry you made it.   

- J.

- Welcome to the Wonderful World of Food! -

Good food has always been a part of my life. It just took me eighteen to nineteen years to realize its benefits and impact. And when I say "good" food, I don't mean "healthy" food, or "organic" food. No, I mean "delicious" food, "comfort" food, food with "love", and on and on, the list is really quite endless. Both my grandmothers were young wives and mothers in the 60's and 70's. They grew up in the times when the meals were the center of the house and the center of the day. They knew what food meant, and they passed that on to their kids. My mom has always been a brilliant cook. Come to think of it, I believe she is really very picky about her meals and recipes. She has three whole shelves full of cookbooks, and in just about every one of them there are recipes given ratings by her and little notes on how the family liked them (and we're always vocal about a new recipe, you can be sure about that!). My mom doesn't just make whatever, she always makes sure that when she plans meals, she knows that the recipe is delicious and that the whole family will enjoy. Her cooking is always amazing, filling, and always unbeatable in my book! My family is also big on entertaining, and my mom is the queen of food/entertaining. Every guest that comes raves about the food and is very grateful for the work my mom does. I'm very grateful too, especially since my taste in food has been nurtured and grown by each and every one of her delicious meals! 

And so, at nineteen green years, I am at the beginning of my long and yummy relationship with that well known universal language: food.

I am also writing a cookbook, yes, a cookbook. I have been pretty fearless in the kitchen as of late, and am always thinking up new and tasty meals to make. Some are brilliant, some are flops. (Have no fear, only the brilliant recipes end up in the cookbook!) I've decided that, while I am only at the beginning of my food adventures, what better way to start than to share it with other people. The recipes in this book are simple, easy, and straight forward. My hope is that I will complete the cookbook and get it published someday. If that doesn't happen, there is always chocolate cake to console me. =)

Well, anyway, I hope this blog is a success and people will come with me on this predictably rocky adventure through the land of food, a land which, as far as anyone can tell, doesn't have an end, as their is always something in the kitchen that is new to eat, and new to learn.

- J.