cook's profile


Dining Diva
 
Home Town: Los Gatos, California, USA
Living In:
Member Since: Apr. 2008
Cooking Level: Expert
Cooking Interests: Baking, Grilling & BBQ, Stir Frying, Slow Cooking, Mexican, Italian, Southern, Nouvelle, Mediterranean, Healthy, Gourmet
Hobbies: Gardening, Boating, Biking, Fishing, Photography, Music, Wine Tasting, Charity Work
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MMMMmm....martini's
About this Cook
People say I should open my own restaurant! My families fight over me at holidays! Only the blessed people who have had "the pleasure" of my cooking skills can truly tell you how good I am! (toot toot) I never follow any recipe to a tee, I always up it just a notch (sometimes 2) adding some of my own special touches!
My favorite things to cook
Italian anything...Somewhere in my heart my true Italian family is missing me...I think i was adopted. Maybe my Italian mom left me on my parents doorsteps...so MAMA come back to me! I also love seafood, roasting, and grilling!
My favorite family cooking traditions
My family SUCKED at cooking! My mom boiled or burned it! I learned to cook for basic survival skills! Then I loved it so much I mastered it! I am the obi-wan of the kitchen Jedi force!
Recipe Reviews 5 reviews
Lentils and Rice with Fried Onions (Mujadarrah)
Lately I have been counting calories and a lazy cook. I got the Trader Joes pre-done lentils in refrigerator section and frozen Jasmine rice, I know i know.. SO, I only used one tablespoon olive oil (garlic flavored) in a non stick pan and carmelized those onions oh 15-20 minutes, and added cinnamin as other people mentioned. I portioned out one cup of lentils, one cup frozen rice, with ohhh a few hefty sprinkles of cumin tossed them in the onions added 1/4 cupish chicken broth, simmered a few minutes, salt and peppered and BOOYA those things are OFF THE HOOK GOOD...i wonder how they would be done the long way *shrug* eh oh well, still awesome!! And cut the calories MAJORLY that was 693 calories and will feed me for at least 2 meals (i used TJ organic fat free plain greek yogurt single serving). I topped with chopped fresh cilantro and drizzeled with scirachi hot sauce. Beautiful and tasty!

10 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Apr. 4, 2011
Hearty Ham Pie
This was one of the best quiches and use of leftover ham I have ever had! I added some cayenne, pinch of nutmeg, and a good quality Gruyere from trader joes, (cave aged) with fat free half and half! I also used the TJ's frozen pie crusts it was so good, my hubby said it's the best one he has ever had. Leftovers didn't last more than a day, it was so good people were eating it in the middle of the night cold!

3 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Oct. 3, 2009
Kalua Pig in a Slow Cooker
This needed some doctoring! It was really bland with only rubbing the outside with salt and one tbsp of smoke. I used a 7 lb bone in pork shoulder, cooked on low for 17 hours it was perfectly cooked, but bland. I even added some chili pepper flakes and garlic powder to the rub before cooking based on other reviewers. i was afraid to over salt based on reviews, and i am super sensitive to salt. It needed more salt. I ended up finding another recipe because i wanted the cabbage with it. The other recipe is more authentic. it called for 1/4 c salt and smoke each, i added it to the shredded meat and it was perfect!! I took some of the juices from the pork and julienned cabbage into 1/8 strips sauteed it in juices with some broth for 5 minutes and served with rice! I wish I had mac salad now!

4 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Oct. 3, 2009
 
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