Frog in the Kitchen

I am currently pursuing my Masters Degree. Sometimes when I get extremely stressed out, I start to think about what it would be like to cook/bake for a living, but I guess I can always keep that a backup plan! I believe my love of being in the kitchen first started with my Easy Bake Oven when I was younger! Oh yeah, also just having a love for food in general! Started to increase my cooking experience when I moved into my first apartment. I am learning and gaining more experience with cooking everyday. The only experience I had in the kitchen before college was baking at home. I love baking and am always looking for ways to improve the health factor of my baked goodies! I usually bake when I am bored, but love the fact that I can bring my goodies into the department and the other grad students are more than willing to take them off my hands! I want to take a cake decorating class. I also want to learn more about meal planning and what kinds of foods compliment each other.

My favorite things to cook
I love baking in general and finding/trying out new recipes to cook!

My favorite family cooking traditions
I myself do not have any cooking traditions yet, but my Grandmother makes a broccoli and potato recipe every Christmas that I absolutely love. I tried my hand at making the recipe, but it just wasn't the same. The next recipes on deck to try are Great Grandmother's meatballs and Lemon Lush, which are also Christmas favorites.

My cooking triumphs
Trying a new recipe and having it come out great! Every time I get a compliment on my food! I recently baked a three layer carrot cake recipe that my grandmother sent me. It is not her recipe, but she told me it was the best carrot cake she has ever had. I made it for a department bbq and it didn't last long at all! I have been requested several times to make it for friends' birthdays. However, I scale the recipe and make them cupcakes since it's quite the labor of love to make the whole cake!

My cooking tragedies
I tried to make Phad Thai one day and ended up filling the entire kitchen with smoke. It was my first time attempt using a wok and oil to cook, unfortunately I almost started a fire!