Some Frequently Asked Questions from followers:
1) How do you come up with your recipes? I have some “go to” family favorites that have been passed down to me, but many are just influences of New England cooking. Some are just clippings or handmade notes that I could never trace the origin of, but when there is a specific source, I’ll note it in my posts. Many of my recipes are simply a result of what’s in my fridge or what I’m inspired to cook based on what’s in season. I always have a variety of vegetables on hand, as well as, eggs, onions/celery/carrots, poultry, and at least one ground meat (beef or pork). I also keep a well-stocked pantry of dry goods including canned tomatoes, rice, pasta, honey, olive oil, various vinegars, soy sauce, bread crumbs, extracts, baking supplies — good to reach for when brainstorming dinner.
2) Do you ever have dishes that don’t turn out well? Of course! Anyone who spends a good amount of time in a kitchen experiences horrible results at times. I learn each time what works and what doesn’t. I also have a built-in tester: my husband. If he tastes something and says “I don’t think you need to make this anymore” the recipe goes in the trash! If he says “You’d better write this one down” I know I’ve got a winner.
3) Tell us more about your hubby. . .Brendan is my best friend and biggest supporter of my cooking. I’ve dragged him to farmer’s markets, farms and tasting events and have served him a multitude of “questionable” dishes. We work from home with our cat, Phoebe. Working together can be “interesting” and for couples out there who work together, you know what I mean! He’s an artist who paints fish and mid-century pinup gals. He’s hugely talented, a great fisherman, an all-around fun person who tells me some of his happiest times are when he hears me in my kitchen while he’s working in his studio. You can see his work at www.BrendanCoudal.com
4) What’s your cooking style? I’m a home cook and I primarily use whole foods which don’t have to be organic, but I like to know where they come from. I believe in a varied but healthy diet, with real butter, eggs, lots of veggies, whole grains, and good sources of protein. Living in Florida affords me access to great seafood and citrus, as well as, year-round produce. My husband and I fish, so dinner is often something we’ve caught. For fun, sometimes I even throw down a challenge in our house, like the infamous “Week of Kale at Every Meal.”
5) What’s your favorite thing to cook? I have the most fun when I’m challenged with only a few ingredients on hand. If a recipes turns out to be great with unexpected ingredients, all the better. My favorite example was the time I hadn’t gone to the supermarket in over a week and had only two tomatoes, half of a cooked chicken breast, one zucchini and a handful of green olives. It ended up being one of the most delicious Mediterranean style dishes we’ve ever had! I also enjoy comfort food like meatloaf and mashed potatoes, pasta with red sauce, rice pudding, etc., but we try to limit those.
6) What theme do you use for your blog? It’s a WordPress theme called FoodiePro — very easy to maintain with lots of flexibility.
7) Can I comment on your posts? Yes! Please comment so we can create dialogue. I only ask that your feedback be constructive and thoughtful. If you find it necessary to say something mean, I’ll not only be hurt, but I also won’t allow your comments to be posted 🙂