Alright. I’ll go first!

(1) What kind of cook/baker are you? Do you have any specialties? If so, what are they?
I’m a recent meat and potatoes girl gone vegertarian. (Though the hubby is trying to talk me into being a Flexatarian- Heh) I love the quick and easy meals on the weekdays but weekends I love taking the cookbook out and taking the time to try something new. I love to cook and bake for entertaining purposes. I’ve been far more creative with cooking than I have baking (I just stick to family classics- but hopefully the community can help me with this!) I have Polish heritage but I’m most comfortable making Mexican/Spanish meals.

(2) What brings you to the community?
My Job :D

(3) Describe your kitchen in 5 words.
Updated, Open, Organized, Bright, Modern

(4) What kitchen appliance can you not live with out? Big: Dishwasher. Little: I don’t know how I lived without my garlic press.

(5) Anything else you want to share with everyone.
Five other random facts about me:
1-    I love anything with feta in it.
2-    I love a good cup of tea.
3-    I need to fall in love with my crock-pot again.
4-    My family has raised me to think of the kitchen of the heartbeat of the house.
5-    Dirty dishes in the sink drive me nuts.

(1) What kind of cook/baker are you? Do you have any specialties? If so, what are they?

I consider myself a cook and enjoy making things from scratch – in fact, I prefer it over convenience foods.  I don’t do much baking.  I tend to “eyeball” my measurements and I know it doesn’t work well with baking.  I don’t do much for specialties, but I do make a mean beef  roast.

(2) What brings you to the community?

I know there are many new cooks out there that don’t have a mother or grandmother handy to ask cooking questions.  

(3) Describe your kitchen in 5 words.

Small, crowded and old fashioned.

(4) What kitchen appliance can you not live with out?

I really love my little immersion blender and my micro plane.

(5) Anything else you want to share with everyone.

I’m a 54 year old grandmother of six grandsons (the oldest is 19 and the youngest is 20 months) – and still have no granddaughters… My husband and I travel between SC and VT most months.  I enjoy cooking as well as reading, quilting, photography and my family. 

Hi Eemma:

Thank you for telling us more about you! Wow, 6 grandsons. I have to imagine you have some fun family gatherings. :) I was brought up in a big family and love it. It's loud and a little crazy (ha, ha)- but it's always memorable. What kind of books do you like reading? I'm reading Soul of the Chef . It's a real page turner. (I missed my stop on the train the other day because I was so engrossed!)

Also, my husband and I were talking about investing in either a food processer or a immersion blender... Hmmm... I think we might have to open up a new thread soon and talk about our favorite appliances and which brands are great. :)  Sincerely, CateC

I am currently reading Stephen King’s newest paperback and a Sci Fi as well as a True Crime novel.  (It all depends on my mood.)  All in paper back, though.  I tend to fall asleep when I get to read and the hard cover books hurt when they fall on me  .  I also like to browse through old cookbooks.  

Stephen King is usually a page turner. I read "IT" over 10 years ago- and I can still remember lines from the book. As for the old cookbook idea- smart. I think I might try to do some yard sale-ing this year- and see what new cook book "gems" I can find. :)

That is good insight on immersion vs. food processor... Plus- it takes up less space and less dishes maybe? Always a good thing :)

Sincerely, Cate C

Hello Everyone  I'm the Tea Queen, because I love tea and tea parties!

I'm always looking for recipes that I can use at the tea parties that I give.

I have found a cup cake recipe  on this site ( I love cup cakes!) that calls for hazelnut or orange-flavored liqueur.  I don't have this on hand so can I use something else in stead?  The Truffle Brownie cup cakes would be a perfect dessert on the tea table.

Thanks for any help.

1.I like to cook/bake most any kind of food.

2.I thought it would be fun to join this community of excellent cooks.  Always looking for good advise on how to make things better that I do and looking for fast, easy tips .

3, My kitchen is small, gally type, organized to my liking, and filled with lots of love.

4. I can not live without, dishwasher, microwave, mixer and food processor

Hello,

My name is April. I have just recently lost my job so in my free time I thought I would learn some new reciepes that my family might enjoy. I have three kids ranging from 8 to 16.

I love to try new things. I am a new to the kitchen but I can cook and baking is my favorite especially around the holiays. I am hoping that I can search this site an make some wonderful friends and find new ideas for my kitchen that my family will love. I am tired of cooking the same things over and over again.

My kitchen is my kitchen. It is small and cozy but full of love that goes into my food. It is also has new experiences for my daugthers that are wanting to learn.

A kitchen appliance that I can not live without. That is a tough one but I would have to say my crock pot. I love cooking things in the crock pot.

I am a medical assistant and I am going back to school in March. So I will be busy and I would also like to find reciepes that will freeze well and are quick to make.

hi all, I'am a country cook who loves to see people enjoy my cooking.

What brings me to the post is the love of trying new  ideas to cook.

 My kitchen is the place I love the most.

My favorite thing in my kitchen is my  oven roaster.

 Iam a grandmother of 3 and one more on the way    , My life is my family, I have gotten the most joy when I see my family enjoy my cooking.

I love to cook and I'm pretty good at it.   I mostly cook from scratch, because I live in Mexico, where convenience foods are hard to come by.  But thank goodness, I can find Betty Crocker cake mixes, not in all flavors, but atleast the main ones!  I love cooking just about everything.  I love baking cakes, cookies, pies and especially yeast breads. 

I like coming to the website, because I can find a wide variety of recipes!   Plus, most of the recipes are easy to follow.

My kitchen is warm, not too big and very inviting!  My 4 kids love to help me in the kitchen!

I love all my appliances.  But I definitely could not live without my oven.

I've been married for 15 years and couldn't cook a thing when I was a newlywed.  But little by little, with the help of a great Betty Crocker cookbook that I received as a wedding gift, I have learned to be the kind of cook that I am today!!!

Hello to all, just stopped in to see what is going on, I am a Mom and Grandma who loves to put smiles on peoples faces by cooking, baking and just having fun as a family.  I like to stop in and see whats new and check out ideas for baking and dinner.  My Kitchen is now in the process of remodeling and it is the gathering place for everyone.  We are trying to fininsh it up this year, it is very hard times for all, I have been laid off of work and it makes times tuff, so I try and make ends meet with creative ideas.  Trying to finish up our dream kitchen, I want to put in stainless steel backsplash, redo the cabinet fronts and just make it a happier place to be in.  So if all goes well it will be done this year!  The kitchen appliance that we could not live with out was just given to us at Christmas, it is a steamer, and WOW it is nice, the food tastes so much better and is healthy eating! So I wish everyone hope and may all your dreams come true and keep the faith at these hard times.  Happy Cooking!  I do have one request from Betty Crocker, please bring back the Cinnamon Swirl Cake Mix, I just found out that it is no longer made!  I have combed every store and could not find it and would love to see it back, IT IS THE BEST! :)

Hi Ladies! Thank you for letting us know more about you!

Cac426 :
Hello Tea Queen! I love a good tea party!  Tea is my caffeinated daily choice (though, I do love a good herbal tea). Right now I’m drinking Lipton Green Tea with Mandarin orange flavor. I love the pyramid tea bags! What are some of your favorite teas?

Ahh… so you are talking about the “Truffle Lover’s Cupcakes”
Heh, I could go for one those right now!
Okay. This is what I suggest:
3 tablespoons orange juice and 1 teaspoon orange extract
OR
3 tablespoons unsweetened orange juice concentrate.
Hope this helps! Please let us know how it turns out (and if you have time, write a review on the exact recipe so others can know about it also!).

dreamcatcher0575:

April: I think it’s great your kids want to learn how to cook! I think some of the best memories I have with my mom are in the kitchen.
I understand the importance of a good crock pot recipe.
There are so many great crock pot recipies on here!

 
I’m thinking about making the Slow Cooker Curried Sweet Potato and Lentil Stew sometime soon.

also… I found this blog the other day and was inspired. I thought this soup was excellent.

I’ll be opening up the categories early next week and I can meet you in there and talk more about great “Do – Ahead “recipes! ☺

OK, I'm Mere, the other moderator with Cate. And now it's my turn. Here goes...

(1) What kind of cook/baker are you? Do you have any specialties? If so, what are they?

I'm a better baker than I am a cook, without a doubt. But as a Southern woman, I'm genetically predisposed to at least some talent for food preparation in general, so I still know my way around a kitchen. As for specialties, I'd have to say muffins. If it starts as batter and can be poured into tins, it's got my name all over it.

(2) What brings you to the community?

Same as Cate: my job. But I'm happy to be here.

(3) Describe your kitchen in 5 words.

Stocked. Tidy. Color-coordinated. Well-equipped. Comforting.

(4) What kitchen appliance can you not live with out?

My KitchenAid mixer. Period.

(5) Anything else you want to share with everyone

I'm all about quick and easy weeknight dinners, lavish Sunday brunches, and lots of low-cal, veggie-rich, figure-friendly meals in between (to make up for all the indulgent baking I'm prone to, of course).

nana4909: You’re comment, “I have gotten the most joy when I see my family enjoy my cooking” made me smile. It’s true.
Mmm- you must share some your favorite oven roaster recipes with us… I’ll be opening up the categories soon. I can’t wait to hear about some.

mexmama74: Mexico? Can you send some heat up to IL? Hehe. Thank you for joining us here and sharing your story. My mom also has cookbook from her wedding day and we all still go back to it for to look up certain things. My mom says it’s lasted longer than some of her appliances.
Next week I’m going to do a bit on “Staycation” in Mexico… I would love to know your imput… and see if you have any recipes to help!

Paka62:
Remodeling is huge job- I hope it all goes well timing wise. You have to get creative when you kitchen is in transition! I hope the community can be some help. Steamer eh?  Maybe when you have time you can share some of your recipes… we would love to hear them!

Maverickmax:
Yes! Another entertainer!  That’s great- I really hope to buff up our “Holidays and Entertaining”… I think we are going to do our ode to FEB very soon.

Thank you so much for the welcome!! I am always looking for recipes to entertain with.

-Maverickmax

Hello,

1) I like to experiment with my cooking. I'm always making something different each day. My speciality has to be my omelets!

2) I enjoy cooking so i thought this would be a great way to get ideas.

3) It's what I like to call "My Room"

4) I don't really use to many appliances, so I'd have to say my can opener, toaster, roaster, and slow cooker.

5) I have a 2yr old who hates to eat. He loves this pancakes..... that's about it. If anyone can help me with some kid friendly recipies i would appreciate it!

Hi there! I am just an ez, everyday meal kind of a cook/ baker. Just wanting to meet new foodies, and get , and maybe even give advice. Small, crowded, busy, comfortable, convenient. The one appliance I cannot live with out is my hand held  mini blender

I'm from Southeast Texas, and we like to bake. Trying cake mixes that we can use in wedding cakes and other special cakes. Recipes which can include other ingredients and yet hold up. I have a pretty large kitchen. Two ovens and a cook island with an induction cook top. Bake quite often for others.

Hello!!!  Glad to be here.  I have a grandson who will be 9 yrs old soon.  He loves "white" cake and chocoate frosting.  I have NEVER made a white cake that is moist so I thought I'd try Betty Crocker "Super Moist".  Has anyone tried it?  Does anyone have a solution for me about the "dry white cakes" I make?????  Am I cooking them too long????Am I mixing them too long???  I'm really stumped!

I cook and bake i love to try need things

I saw the free snack

small cute  types  cooking applicance

I love to cook and bake