Definition of Site name

I have a passion for cooking. I think food service is in my blood. My father was a butcher, and a great cook. My mother was not only a great cook, but very inventive in the cooking she did, and loved trying new things. The interest was aroused, because I had great teachers. My FAVORITE job ,was waitressing at "LaFrance" restaurant in Provo. It is long gone, but the 20 years I spent working there have changed my life. 23 years ago Claude Massa....the owner, called and asked me if I wanted to buy the restaurant. We had just moved back to Orem from Torrance California. Angie was a year old, and Mark had just opened our business R and M Woods. We had no money to invest in such a venture, and being a new mom, no time! I could kick myself every time I think that I didn't get recipes from Claude, before he moved back to france. Lessons learned. I have a pet peeve!! BIG one!!! Mouth noises, smacking, slurping ect!!! My little brother and I used to get in fights at the dinner table over it! Have you ever heard a Frenchman eat???? At first I was so grossed out, and so annoyed, that every time Claude would eat, I would have to leave the room, or SCREAM! What I learned....SOMETIMES....those sounds of enjoyment ,are "Thehighestcompliment" that you can give a chef. (and sometimes it is still just plain gross and rude!) Those 20 years at LaFrance taught me so much! I learned to love FINE food. Not fast food. When French people would come in, they wanted to DINE....not EAT! 3 hours at a table cuts down on tips, but I learned about savoring the meal, not inhaling it! I loved serving people great food, and seeing their pleasure after dining. The love affair began for real! Now I love cooking for other people! Just this weekend we hosted some youth from our church who were visiting from out of state, for conference weekend. I made some killer cupcakes (my new passion...along with the rest of the world!) for dessert. Lemon poppyseed, filled with a really tart lemon curd, and topped with a vanilla/lemon buttercream! The last 4 are in the other room, HAUNTING me!! As they bit into them, all I heard was "uhmmmmmm". No words. Just the sound of satisfaction. I said to the kids, you know.... that is the highest compliment you can give! It means far MORE THAN WORDS> I truly mean that! The sighs, and moans, and lip smacking are what I live for! It makes me all warm and mushy inside:) So.....I NEVER though I would join the blogging craze, but I hope to share my joys, and hints, and things learned along the way. New recipes, new techniques, reworking old ones. I will try anything once! I love finding new things to try. Anything involving food interests me. My newest adventure.....CHEESE MAKING!!! Another.....Cake decorating! So.....here we go.....let's have some fun! I know I will:)