I started this blog as a way of sharing what I know, learning from others, and just to have a good time “playing” with the food. I have a passion for Real Food, the kind I cook for my clients. Remember real food? The kind of stuff you used to eat before you ran out of time, out of energy, out of your mind? That tender barbecued steak that melted in your mouth, the baked potato with the crispy skin running with butter and sour cream, and the fresh green salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes and red sweet onion with real Ranch dressing? Remember potato salad that was good, tangy and cruchy not gooey and gross? Fresh berries and cream? Real lemonade made with fresh lemons and sugar? Yeah, I remember, too. And that’s how I like to cook.

I like slow food as opposed to “fast” icky food whose origins are skenky. Food that braises, melds and marries flavors and textures, that enlivens the pallet and satisifies your soul. You know, those baked potatoes take an hour, at least. Just wash off the dirt, dry ‘em up, massage them with olive oil and throw them in a 400 degree oven. You need to poke them with a knife or fork, first. Otherwise, the moisture in the potatoes will heat up and begin to steam. And steam without and outlet…well, you might have exploding potato bombs. Not good. Big mess. Ugly clean up.

I’m kind of fussy about food. It has to be good, the ingredients fresh, the spices and herbs balanced, the flavors delightful.  Otherwise, what’s the point? You might as well eat MRE’s. I prefer my fruits and vegetables come without pesticides, the meats and dairy minus the hormones, antibiotics and whatever other weird stuff they inject; it’s got to be clean. Fresh. I kinda like my men that way, too, but that’s another story.

I’m rather new to blogging so I’ll be making changes from time to time, adding categories, testing what works, dumping what doesn’t. And learning something new. I’ll share with you the dishes that worked for my clients, how I tweeked a recipe, and ah…the stinkers, too. There’s always some great story that comes out of a food disaster. I tell myself “it’s a learning experience” every time I dump some smoldering calamity. Ok, so tears are running down my eyes, I’m pissed as all hell and I just wasted a  bunch of money. But…Buddah Joe says, “Grasshoppa, it better you poke a few holes in potatoes before baking, no?” Got it.

So, keep checking back. Today, you know how to bake a potato.