When I was growing up, my favorite place to be was sitting on a stool in my mother's kitchen watching her cook.  Her methods were not precise, but everything was made with love and the end products couldn't have been better.  Her spaghetti and meatballs are still my favorite, and the memories that were made during that time are the dearest of my childhood.  

As I continued to mature and grow, I constantly sought creative foods to make.  I clearly remember "off recipe" muffins that were absolutely terrible, but my family dutifully ate, and some sort of strange concoction of sour cream and chocolate milk powder that I used to mix together, freeze and then eat.  It was an odd time in my life.  But I stuck with it, and once in college, I began to really let myself cook. 

I was lucky enough to live in London, UK, for a short time during my college experience.  While there I met some of the loveliest ladies I still know today.  Each Wednesday night we gathered at our flat, and cook a delicious meal for each other.  Though the meals were simple home cooking, we referred to ourselves as "The Gourmet Gals" and had a ball. 

Back at home in the US, my passion continued to grow.  I started exploring my area for fresh vegetables, creating nutritious meals in the tiny kitchen located in my dorm. 

Today I hold several principles from these times close to my heart.  Everything I cook is made with love, passion and creativity.  I rarely work from recipes directly though I often read cook books for inspiration.  I strive to make dishes that are warm and familiar to my loved ones, while adding a bit of unique twist.  I seek out local ingredients when possible and love the freshness that they bring to each dish. 

Cooking, to me, is not something done to produce nourishment for survival, but rather it is the vehicle for art and poetry that sets my soul on fire, and links my brain and my heart together.

Contact

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please email me at abostonfooddiary@gmail.com