Our wonderful and humorous blogging friend Debbi from Aunt Debbi's Garden needed to do some interviews..and I was one of her volunteers.This is an interview for cooks..well, I have always enjoyed cooking so this is an easy one for me!
Here you go Debbi:
At what age did you begin cooking?
I don't know the exact age, but I was in elementary school.
Who taught you?
My Mother, but I have learned lots of things from friends and other family members.
What type of food is your favorite?
I love fresh veggies and desserts--yum!!
Where do you get your best ingredients?
I like to buy fresh veggies from a family owned produce stand close to my house. I love to buy local honey and jellies when I can find them. I try spices from just about anywhere. Everything else comes from the grocery store.
Do you know any cooking tricks?
No, not really. I am a very traditional cook. I like to cook, but I LOVE to bake. My favorite thing is cookies. When the kids were little, we always had homemade cookies in the cookie jar. If I had a trick to share it would be this: don't over bake cookies--under bake them. Take them out of the oven a couple of minutes before you think they are done and let them sit on the cookie sheet 2 minutes before putting them on your cooking rack.
Will you share a recipe?
Sure...I'll share two!
I love fresh carrots, and this is how I like to cook them:
Glazed Carrots
Cut carrots into lengthwise strips (or cut in half if using baby carrots)
Cook in a small amount of water until almost tender.
Remove carrots from the pan and set aside.
In the same pan, combine:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. grated orange peel (optional)
2 T. margarine
Cook this under bubbly, then add the carrots back and cook about 5 more minutes.
Really good--it gets kids to eat their carrots!
Since I mentioned cookies, here is one of my favorite recipes (and hubby's very favorite!)Oatmeal Cookies
Combine in a large bowl:
1 cup Crisco
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
Add these dry ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
2 cups old fashioned oatmeal
(I add raisins--you can also add walnuts)
Mix well, drop by level tablespoons on a cookie sheet ( I use a baking stone) and bake at 375 for about 8-10 minutes. NOTE: Here is an example of what I said before--the cookies need to look a little under baked when you take them out. Let them set on the cookie sheet about 1-2 minutes before removing them to the cooling rack.
So there you have it Debbi--hope this will help you out. All this thinking is really making me hungry..so think I will head into the kitchen.Happy Gardening--uh..I mean Cooking everyone!
