Simply put, I LOVE to cook.  Two exceptional women have greatly influenced my love of cooking and eating - my mother and grandmother.  It was impossible to resist the homemade brown bread, doughnuts and sweets my grandmother prepared – not to mention roast beef or turkey dinners, pies and preserves.  Her kitchen was warm, cozy and full of love.  My fondest childhood memories are of Nana’s kitchen.

My mother has carefully guarded the secrets of my grandmother’s kitchen but her culinary tastes extend to more elaborate recipes and formal dinner parties.  Dinner at my parent’s house ranges from a traditional roast beef dinner to crêpes to one of thousands of recipes from her collection.  She reads cookbooks like novels and is always looking for new and exciting ways to prepare food.  Dinner is served on her best china and always includes several courses.  You can rest assured that dessert will be a showstopper!

My own cooking preferences have evolved over the years.  While I cook traditional fare, I am also concerned about eating more nutritiously.  I still prepare rich sauces and calorie-laden desserts, at times, but my everyday cooking focuses on including more vegetables, whole grains and alternative sources of protein in dishes that are quick and easy to prepare on even the busiest of nights.  After a day at work, I want to be able to prepare a meal that tastes delicious and really satisfies my hunger but takes little time to prepare.  Though I am not strictly vegetarian or vegan, I incorporate many recipes that fall into these two categories into my weekly menu.  I have recently adopted a dairy-free lifestyle and am working on using and creating recipes that still taste delicious and satisfy but that the rest of my family will also love.  This is currently my biggest challenge.

I take great pride in preparing meals with love.  I wash fruits and vegetables religiously to ensure they are as free of pesticides, waxy coatings and chemical residues as possible.  I adhere to safe food handling practices.  I use the best quality ingredients I can afford for superior flavour.  When food tastes good and is nicely presented, I find that people are more satisfied with smaller portions - yet another healthy eating strategy!

Join me in my quest for the best of the best.  Comment on my recipes, offer suggestions, send me your own recipes to share with others, offer cooking tips and techniques or even clever entertaining ideas.  Anything goes – from healthy to indulgent, traditional to haute cuisine.

Bon appétit!