Excited to know about this web-site!

[CCCathy]

Hi All,

I just learned of this site and am certain that I will not only learn much, but hope to be able to add a little as well!

I am an experienced cook on the "home front", although I have worked in restaurants for a few years (mostly as lead hostess for 2 years, server another 2, as well as back of the house in food prep., and bookkeeping).

I truly love being in the kitchen, and most of the time savor my finished dishes. Cooking in my opinion is an art form not simply a chore, there is a feeling of excitement and expectation when I'm cooking. I guess I am "hooked on cooking" you might say!

Although I have little time for television I am especially fond of the Food Network (when I can tear my 8 yr. old away from Disney) the guy with the "E" on his shirt always being my favorite. Next in line would be "Iron Chef" the origianl episodes (but who can stay up that late except on Fri.'s and weekends). I am glad cooking is popular, hopefully the next generation will continue the traditions and of-course add their own as well!

Cheerio, CCCathy

[Mezzaluna]

Thank you for introducing yourself, CCCathy. We're glad you found us and I'm sure you'll enjoy this community. We're a good mix of professionals and home cooks; the home cooks, like me, range from neophytes to skilled. Just by reading the forum posts you can learn a lot, but we hope you'll participate, too. The idea is to share and learn.

What do you most enjoy cooking? Are there local ingredients you like to work with?

There's a lot of material to enjoy; you may want to use the search tool to help you find earlier threads in the forums.

Welcome!
Mezzaluna

[CCCathy]

Hi Mezzaluna,

I enjoy cooking entree's the very best, although I also enjoy making homemade yeast breads. Local ingredients are during the summer being mostly vegetables. I live in North Georgia and besides fresh water fish, and vegetables I really do not find much local fare available.

I adore Middle Eastern and Mexican cuisine the very best, my least favorite being anything with curry. That is my own fault though as in my younger years I went overboard on eating curry dishes and burnt myself out. Of-course I like Chinese, Japanese, French, Vietnamese, Italian, American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Jamaican, German and many others as well . Variety as they say certainly is the spice of life! I do love spices, and seasonings, and flavorings of all descriptions!

I do appreciate your suggestion how to do a search and believe me I will be reading and searching this website alot!

CCCathy

[bughut]

Hi CCCathy. Wecome to the site. I have to say please dont give up on CCCurry. Or i should say all the fabulous regional cuisines of India. I have a Northern indian chef who works part time filling the freezers with scrummy bite sized stuff for buffets. Her curries are great, but Tiny who used to work for us came from Southern India, had the most amazing "curries" , loaded with coconut milk and a totally different way of using spices.Although Indian isnt my absolute favourite ( that's Thai) The diversity of Indian cuisine is truly amazing.
In saying that, Here in the UK, I think we are far more turned onto Indian food.
Looking forward to hearing more from you

[CCCathy]

Thanks Bughut for the encouragement to not give up on Indian cusine. I know you are correct in your assessment, and there are many delightful dishes that "reign supreme" from our Indian cousins. I have had Indian friends and they are some excellent cooks! I think my main problem is that I have not really studied and explored Indian recipes in a long time, and simply walked away as a result of a few bad experiences at restaurants and home. Now you know I will certainly try and do some experimental dishes and see if I can not reverse my decision to leave c-c-curry in the dust!

P.S. I noticed that you're from Scotland, my father's clan was Scottish. My maiden name is Cathy Kennedy. And I have believe it or not never known that much about Scottish cooking. Maybe you can fill me in if you have time. I feel ashamed to admit it, but I tend to take my heritage for granted unfortunatley.