An Interview with Aunt Debbi

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!