Question: What is my background as a cook?

I have always loved to be in the kitchen. I learned the basics when I was a teenager and made a deal with my mother, who hated to cook. I promised to cook dinner all summer and she taught me how to cook the meat & potatoes meals my dad preferred.

Question: Where did I learn the expert tips?

I taught myself a lot just experimenting in my own kitchen. I collected cookbooks and watched all the cooking shows. Then I got a job that took my skills to a new level. There is a company that started in San Francisco to teach nonprofessionals how to cook like a professional. I worked for their retail store for a little over a year. I used that opportunity to learn all that I could from their professional chefs.

Question: How will this page work?

Send me your questions, using the contact information at the bottom of this page. I'll post the questions and answers in this page. If I don't know or can't find an answer in my collection of cooking reference materials, I'll post the question and you can all send in your answers. I'd also love to have any cooking tips, shortcuts, etc. that you'd like to share with other people. I'll post them on the tips page in a section separate from the recipe tips.

This section is for interesting recipes you send in. It will also include a spot for recipe requests. Send me your favorite recipes or requests for recipes you'd like to try. I'll post them here. Please give the author credit, if your favorite is from a published source.