cook's profile


Nicole R.
 
Home Town: Manlius, Illinois, USA
Living In: Peoria, Illinois, USA
Member Since: May 2003
Cooking Level: Intermediate
Cooking Interests: Baking, Stir Frying, Italian, Low Carb, Healthy, Dessert, Quick & Easy
Hobbies: Hiking/Camping, Walking, Photography, Music
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Happy Daze
About this Cook
Cancer survivor since 2004 (remission since 2006). Love music of all kinds, photography, baking, my cats (outdoor) and my roommates' dogs (terriers). I am currently attending Midstate College in Peoria and received my Associate in Business Computer Accounting in Feb. 2008 and am continuing on with my B.S. in Accounting and Business Administration.
My favorite things to cook
I love to cook the things I don't need to eat- cookies, brownies, desserts. I also do main dishes with pasta, chicken, fish, pork chops and hamburger mainly. I try to fix something new and different at least twice a month. Typically my cooking involves easy to intermediate recipes.
My favorite family cooking traditions
We always had a birthday party for my great grandma every year for like 8 or so years straight, and we'd always make the cake.. So, even when she passed, we still celebrated with a cake for ourselves. That was the same with my uncle who passed in Aug. 2005, we celebrated his birthday with his favorite meal/cake in April '06 and have ever since- steak and carrot cake.
My cooking triumphs
I just appreciate it when someone thinks you made something wonderful. My chocolate chip cookies and brownies are usually a hit. Every year I try to make something I've never made before (usually around Christmas or family gathering), and I feel "special" that I've accomplished something new!
My cooking tragedies
Misreading the brownie recipe and putting 1/2 cup corn syrup in instead of 1/4 (it's 1/2 cup honey OR 1/4 cup corn syrup). Talk about a chocolate mess. I cooked it twice as long, but never set up. I reread and found my mistake... But that was the best tasting mistake!
Recipe Reviews 27 reviews
Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert Bars
This is a bit different than what I make. I use 19 sandwiches (Cut one ice cream sandwich in half. Place one whole and one half sandwich along short side of ungreased 9x13 inch pan. Arrange 8 sandwiches in opposite direction of pan.) I use approximately 1 cup each of hot fudge and caramel toppings plus pecans (for a pecan mudslide dessert, if desired). Another variation is to leave out the pecans and caramel; instead use 1-2 cans More Fruit Cherry Pie Filling to make it a Black Forrest dessert.

3 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Jul. 2, 2009
French Toast Casserole
This was good overall. I made it as-is. I think it would be good to add half the bread and then a sprinkle of cinnamon and then the remainder of the bread, or use raisin bread. The top was a little sweet with the sugar. Did not care for it left-over at all so that was a negative to it. I think it would be good with some added flavors- fruit, cream cheese, the raisin bread- but it's a good simple base recipe.

0 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Apr. 13, 2009
Strawberry Pie II
This was my first attempt at a fruit pie with a roll-out dough. I tried this because of the simplicity of it and it worked out wonderfully. I did start with 1/2 cup of sugar and used 3/4 cup as opposed to the 1 cup in the recipe. Adjust according to taste and the sweetness of the berries. It didn't take the 10 minutes to get thick either- I may have left it on for about 5 minutes and it worked out perfectly. This is definitely a keeper and have requests for the recipe already! Thanks for sharing.

1 user found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Apr. 13, 2009
 
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