cook's profile


GABRIELLAM
 
Home Town: Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Living In: Mundelein, Illinois, USA
Member Since: Aug. 2001
Cooking Level: Intermediate
Cooking Interests: Grilling & BBQ, Stir Frying, Slow Cooking, Asian, Mexican, Indian, Italian, Healthy, Quick & Easy
Hobbies: Gardening, Boating, Walking, Photography, Reading Books, Music, Painting/Drawing, Wine Tasting
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Hubby and Me in Hawaii
About this Cook
I was born in Germany but have lived most of my life (since I was 4) in the USA. My Mom is a marvelous cook and so was Grandma so I guess that's where I developed my interest in cooking. I don't really do gourmet but I like to try new things and usually never follow a recipe 100%. I guess I just have to let those creative juices flow ;-)
My favorite things to cook
I love making hearty soups in winter including split pea, butternut squash and mega vegetable and multi bean soups. I love my slow cooker and experiment with those kinds of recipes quite a bit. I also love casseroles like Chicken and Stuffing or breakfast casseroles. Once in a while we will have something in a restaurant that I will be able to recreate at home--I usually come pretty close (kinda like horseshoes).
My favorite family cooking traditions
Mom is such an excellent cook and I get to help out in the kitchen (she let's me wash the dishes...just kidding). We love to make wonderful multi-course meals during the holidays. We start off with an Endive Salad with green onion vinaigrette then maybe a dumpling soup. The main course is one or two meats like a beef roast and maybe pork or chicken and 3 or 4 vegetable side dishes. Mom makes the best gravy! She also makes wonderful desserts like wine creme or marzipan tortes--amazing. In the summer we love to grill steaks with baked potato and cucumber salad--YUM.
My cooking triumphs
Having a sit down dinner for 10 people that went without a hitch. I made a standing rib roast with roasted garlic mashed potato and Aunt Enza's overstewed green beans and mushrooms sauteed with bacon and onion. Also made smoked country ribs (this was overkill and we had lots of leftovers) and a green tossed salad with homemade dressing. Strawberry, blueberry and blackberry mixture over vanilla or chocolate ice cream for dessert. I got raves.
My cooking tragedies
Tried to make turkey stuffing for thanksgiving to help mom out and muddled the spices so badly that the whole mess tasted bitter. We had to start over from scratch.
Recipe Reviews 65 reviews
Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast
I was looking for a pot roast recipe I could adjust for my Mom's gluten intolerance and this was it! I used corn starch instead of flour and left out the mushrooms as my hubby doesn't like them. I will make those separately with bacon and onion. Added about 1/4 cup red wine and homemade chicken stock. It smells divine! I will also make mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and boston lettuce with sour cream herb dressing---super YUM for a sunday dinner.

0 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Apr. 29, 2012
Fried Cabbage II
Delish! I only had about a small half cabbage leftover so sliced that thin, 1 sm onion diced, and used about 1/2 Easter Polish sausage from Paulina Meat Market chopped. Over Med ht 2 tblsp bacon fat sizzled and added onion until soft then added sausage to brown up a bit. Added cabbage. Made a slurry of water, salt and pepper and stirred that in. after covered simmering for 15-20 min, heaven! served this with brown rice and hubby loved it.

0 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Apr. 15, 2012
Slow Cooker Carnitas
The carnitas were a huge hit at our superbowl mexican fiesta party. I had an 8 lb pork shoulder that I probably used 5-6 lbs of in the slow cooker--cut into fist size chunks. I tripled the spice rub but lightened up on the cinnamon to just 2.5 times. The smell was divine. I did pull the meat out and toasted it up in the 400 degree oven for a few minutes before serving with burrito shells and tons of veggies, salsa, cheese, guac, etc. Had Mexican Rice II and Mexican Bean Salad from Allrecipes as sides. Everything was just wonderful.

0 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Feb. 11, 2012
 
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