As a child I loved being in the kitchen.  I remember watching my grandmother make bread on the kitchen table without the use of a bowl, measuring spoon or cup.  I even remember making cookies with one of my best friends and selling them in the neighborhood when I was little to donate to CARE.

My mom and my Aunt Mildred made every Thanksgiving and Christmas a festive family event centered on food and family.   It was always a very fun time for the family with lots of good food.  As I got older and had my own family, I decided it was time for my mom and my aunt to pass the torch to their children to continue the tradition.   The first time I had Thanksgiving dinner, I went all out.  I made every decoration, purchased special tablecloths, flatware and dinnerware.  I took and still take great pleasure in hosting Thanksgiving dinners from creating the menu to the cooking of the turkey, the sides, homemade bread and desserts myself.

I often find opportunities to make dishes and desserts that I take to work for others to enjoy.  Office favorites have been my apple crisp and caramel brownies.   At one time, I had a small business called “Dinner for Two”.  Living in the Washington DC Metro area couples spend hours on the road getting to and from work and are not always up to going back out for, or cooking for that matter, dinner for those very special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries.  I would come to their home and prepare a special dinner for just the two of them.  For this service the couple would come home to their chosen meal warm and ready to serve on a romantically set table with candles and a specially created centerpiece personally made for them to keep.  Some clients requested the whole mood be set by having a special movie or sentimental music playing when they arrive home.  Arriving home, they only have to serve themselves and re-connect as a couple.  For added ambiance, the cook could become the server leaving more time for the couple to spend with each other. 

Although I do not have formal training, I really love to cook and bake.  My training came within the home from my mother, my grandmother and lots of personal practice.  Nothing gives me more pleasure than to prepare a meal or dessert and see people thoroughly enjoy each and every bite.  I specialize in heartwarming comfort food that families remember from childhood and want to pass on to their kids, foods that bring back memories and those foods that make them feel warm and fuzzy all over. 

Allow me to be your cook when you are too tired or time limited to do so.