The Anyone Can Do This Series-a mission statement

With one foot firmly planted in your life of mac and cheese...yes the one you make out of the box, take your other foot and just like a lovely ballerina extend it out and dip it into the world of what you may not understand but could if you were just taught. A world of pastries, breads, meat braising, unusual spices and techniques that will bring you happiness....if all you did was just extend your foot out of your comfort zone. I'm not saying you have to spend hours in the kitchen to do so, or cook up beetles...nothing like that! But sometimes what we don't understand can hold us back...yes?

I have been there. I have stayed away from recipes and ideas that seemed just to daunting. Not even giving them a real look. But I realized one day that failure, if anything can bring knowledge and it was a risk I was willing to take.

A lot of people ask me the same questions. Where did I learn to cook? What school did I go to? How come I just know what to do? etc. Well I didn't go to a school per say. I went to the Heidi Academy. I rolled up my sleeves, dove in and poured over book after book, made recipe after recipe. I made up my own curriculum for free and it has payed off (so far). Having the passion and love of food always helps. Even as a little girl cooking was very special to me...so was food, I was a chubby monster. I am always learning....always and probably will continue until my very last breath.

With a catering company it is hard in that I want to share a lot of my recipes but those recipes are also part of my job. It's hard to know what to give out and what to keep to myself. The more I realize my catering days are over for a little while (now that I'm having twins) I can maybe be a little more generous with what I know, and here's why I want to be....

Joy. One of my favorite things in the whole world is to feed people. To watch their eyes roll back in their head because of the bite they just took. Food brings people together, good food makes everything better. There is something magical about it. I want this for my friends and for my readers. To make a magical moment even it it's with the best chili con carne topped with big bits of  thick bacon, jack cheese, avocados, cilantro and the creamiest sour cream. It can happen, I've been there. Even chili can bring everyone together. Now if I could only eat this amazing chili while riding a unicorn...that would truly make it magical...but I digress.

There might be things I throw at you that are a little bit different but it doesn't mean you can't do it or you won't like it. We will cover pastries and work with butter. Sometimes the things that seem the scariest are actually the easiest to make...surprise! There might also be tips, like where to by things, how to pick the best items that fit in your budget and how to stock your pantry. You will see how breezy it can be to make something wonderful and bring joy to those around you...um and yourself, lets not forget that part.

I would love suggestions. You that replied to my FB post, thank you! If you have a certain term you don't understand, or things that have failed in the past and you just don't know why, leave a comment and I will help you. You are probably not alone. This is for you, so you can learn and be even better in the kitchen. May it bring you oodles of joy.

xoxoxo

Heidi