A Feast for the Eyes: January 2008

Hi!
My name is Debby, and I live on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula of California. I am married, and have a grown son. I often refer to them as "my boys" or "my men". They are my honest food critics, and very often my inspiration when I cook or bake. Like so many other bloggers, mine was originally started as a way to organize and share recipes with friends.

Over the last couple of years, my blog has evolved into a format of sharing step-by-step photos on how I made a recipe. I'm so highly visual, that I hope my instructions will inspire someone to try one of my recipes-- and that it will give them the confidence to do it. Most of my German recipes were taught to me, by my "Mutti". If I use a recipe from another cookbook, blogger or Food Network, I will always reference that.

My cooking influences:

My mother's family owned restaurants in Germany, and she was an excellent cook herself. As a little girl, I always wanted to own an Easy Bake Oven. But, my Mutti insisted that I learn how to use a real oven. That's where my love of baking got started. I had to help my mom to cook for our family when I was as young as eight years old. At the time, I wasn't happy about it. Little did I know that, as I matured, I would grow to love being in the kitchen whipping up savory and sweet creations.

Here I am, age 16 years old, in my mother's Bavarian Delicatessen & Gift Shop

My father was Latino, and I recall childhood trips to my "Nana's" small ranch, where I'd watch her make homemade tortillas and refried beans. Hence, I love both Mexican and German food. I adore Italian cooking, and am slowly learning how to make my own pasta. I'm at the infant stage of learning to make more Asian and Indian food, but I just keep trying new things!

My current style of cooking:

Over the last 10 years, I have eliminated buying most processed foods, high fructose corn syrup and mixes. I admit, though, that sugar is something that has a home here. I love to make desserts, but I give a lot of it away-- after just a taste, that is. I've become more aware of where my food is grown, and how my animal proteins were raised. I am fortunate that I live in one of the richest agricultural areas on the planet-- the Salinas Valley of California!

To sum up my cooking-- most of my recipes are simple, unpretentious comfort home cooking. Once in a while, I like to challenge myself by trying to recreating a restaurant-quality meal that looks and tastes gourmet.

A fun opportunity to meet and briefly chat with Tyler Florence at the Harvest Festival in Carmel Valley, 2009

Just jump in and do it!

I started this blog, in 2008, because I wanted to document how to make the German recipes that my mother taught me to make. I learned them the same way her mother taught her-- by watching, and never measuring. I have family members and friends, who would ask me for the recipes and I didn't have any written ones to share! I've spent time "eyeballing" and then measuring the ingredients, so that I can share with my readers how to make some of our favorite dishes like "Austrian Goulash", or my mother's famous German Potato Salad. I used to post recipes daily, then every other day. Lately, I can only post on weekends, because my job has me away from home for very long hours.

Photography:

I aspire to achieve the level of photography that I see with some of the "Divas" of food blogger world. I finally upgraded to a Canon Rebel T1I, in November of 2010. It's a lot different than a point-and-shoot, and I have a lot more of the bells and whistles to learn! I can't give any dazzling advice on photography, except that I've learned to never use flash when photographing food. I try to shoot with natural light, whenever possible. In the winter months, I have a professional light/stand that my husband has given to me on "permanent loan". My food photos haven't been "styled"-- heck, no! Usually, my family is hungry and I have to plate, shoot and serve as quickly as I can!

My food aversions: I become frustrated with picky eaters. Yet, I find that are a few things I simply don't like. Believe me, I've tried to overcome my aversions, and I won't give up. Still no luck in liking:

Goat cheese, though I keep trying different versions. No luck, still. (my taste buds are turned off by the strong flavor)
Butternut or acorn squash (I've drenched this in honey and all kinds of herbs, but to no avail.) My palate still says "ew" I will eat it, though, if I'm a dinner guest.
Liver. 'Nuff said
Watermelon (very un-American, I know). My tastes buds say "why"?
Garbanzo beans (my taste buds say "boring" and funky texture)
Falafel (see above bullet)
Stuffing (very odd. I make great stuffing, but it does nothing for me)

My food guilty pleasures - Things that I crave, indulge in or struggle to resist:

Caramel
Almond/Marzipan (must be my German genes)
French fries/Pomme Frites (food crack)
Potatoes (see Fries): boiled, baked, steamed, roasted, mashed.
Dark Roast Coffee with Half 'N Half. That first cup of the morning is the best.
Prime Rib - Crusty exterior, medium.
Moist white cake with Swiss Buttercream
Cream of Mushroom Soup - my favorite soup of all time
Would you believe "Rice Krispie Treats"? It's like crack to me.

OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION:
I owned 5 horses for a period of 35 years--A Quarterhorse, and then Arabians. I used to compete at horse shows, and later I became an avid trail rider. As my horses became old, and finally went to the pasture in the sky, I didn't replace them. Finally, my last horse-- Savannah Sue-- became too old to ride. She spent the last two years of her life living on a ranch and enjoying the retirement that she deserved. I lost her in June of 2010. I miss her terribly, but my saddle and reins are put away for good.

My husband and I travel as often as we can. I was once a travel agent, for 15 years, and I've visited some exotic places from South America to Iceland. I've visited very few parts of the United States, so that is where most of our travels tend to lead us.

PLEASE DON'T COPY
It's common courtesy to honor that my photographs and written copy are copyrighted. Copying my work, without asking me, and using them on your own blog is downright rude and I would never do that to anyone else. If you want to use my photos, please ask for permission. I usually will give it, provided that you link back to my site. The blogger community thanks you for your cooperation.