I have always loved to eat, and I learned to cook to support that habit. I’ve picked up tips & tricksfrom lots of sources; parents, step parents, old bosses, friends…Like most people who love to cook I started in my youth. For most of us, we learn to cook what we like to eat so we can cook it whenever we want. For kids that means making baked goods. In Jr. High Home Economics, they didn’t teach much more than baked goods in the cooking segment (Moment of Truth – sewing is the only class I have ever completely FAILED. I still can’t sew and I have to hire people to replace a button). As I aged and my life changed, I developed ways to impress dates by feeding them; spaghetti and meat sauce was a triumph. As a married woman putting dinner on the table every night was a personal victory. I really didn’t know how to make that many dishes, but we had to eat every night, so I learned. Not everything was a success, and my poor hubby has had to eat a lot of “dogs”. I am a firm believer in the adage “if you can read, you can cook.”

One of our wedding gifts was this cookbook. You’ll notice I have 2 copies, I asked John to get me another copy since the pages were falling out of my original. This was my first cookbook as a married person, and I now have well over 100, but no where near as many as my friend Pam.

I have a competitive nature…I can’t help it. After I had mastered basic dinner, I decided that I needed to be a better cook than any of my friends. I wanted to be the best at SOMETHING. Lord knows I can’t sing, play an instrument, sew or play sports better than anyone else, so I set out to be the best cook. I went to Basic Cookery at the local Community College’s Culinary Program, and I learned that I had been holding the knife wrong for 30 years. At that point it became my mission, as the oldest person in the class, to be # 1 in the class (I succeeded…).

So, in short cooking inspired me to reach beyond myself, to try new things and get competitive. What started out as a way to feed myself and then impress people and then feed myself again became a mild obsession. Now? Now? I find things to challenge me to beat myself. That’s why I started smoking my own bacon. That’s why I learned how to roll my own sushi. That is why I learned to make my own pancetta. That is why this weekend I made my first batch of spicy Italian sausage. It came out great!

What’s next on the challenge list? Who knows? It will definitely be something that maybe scares me, none of my other friends do and something I LOVE to eat. Maybe pates, terrines or sweetbreads…

This week’s Food Memories include my spicy sausage, The First Ever Vegas Foodie Fest (the best thing I ate all day was Truffled Mac & Cheese with Venison), brunch buffet with my main squeeze and the first corn on the cob of the season.

Food from Mangia Mangia – the profiteroles were comped. Lobster Ravioli, Spinach Ravioli and a Chicken Parm sandwich.

Me and that amazing Venison Mac & Cheese from the Vizzi Truck out of LA.

Until next week, go out and make your OWN Food Memories!