Sommer's First Blog as the Chef's Wife!

James and I have been talking for quite some time now about writing a cookbook. This is not just for James but for me. I know that now some of you are laughing inside because you have seen me try to cook. I grew up eating processed foods, we weren't really allowed to help cook, I don't really like to cook as well as I just don't know how.

Breakfast for me was a pack of Ritz crackers or a bowl of ravioli-sleep was more of a priority to me than my first meal of the day. When I was single and living away from home, fast food or sandwiches were easy and chocolate was always on hand. But hey, I was skinny so I must have been healthy...right?!

When I first started working at Lily's it exposed me to many other types of food and then meeting James the whole wide world was there to explore. I was first introduced to mushrooms and thought they were the best thing ever with chicken, rice and a little sauce. Later I remember having my first Chinese experience in Chinatown with his family. I was scared, but fell in love. Fish was probably the scariest endeavor to me as fish was bullheads or fish sticks so in my mind I wasn't a fan at all. A girlfriend encouraged me on a trip to Nantucket to try the halibut and I was sold. It may surprise you now that sushi is my favorite food ever! Yes, for some of you that is raw fish! (James just told me its really vinegared rice-haha!)

So James and I got married and I was trying to learn to cook. I loved angel hair pasta and my friend and I still laugh about the time she came to visit me. I was trying to cook just and oil and garlic pasta. I believe I burnt the garlic and most of the pasta was in the sink instead of the strainer. I am sure I gave up and just made a sandwich or got take out. I have come a long way since then. There have been arguments between James and I because he cannot fathom why I cannot understand something "so simple and common sense." There has also been much patience from him towards me as he teaches me how to make the same thing over and over and over and over again-lol! I have since added some girlfriends who teach, train and challenge me in dietary choices. I have learned that there is probably a way to make everything likable, that fresh is always best and that though I think chocolate should remain in my diet for every meal, it probably isn't best. I have learned that yes God made food to fuel our bodies, but He also intended for us to enjoy it too.

I would like to share with you my family and friends the amazing dishes that James prepares in the restaurant and then the less advanced way for us at home. I would like to learn with you the nutritional benefits as to why they work for our bodies. I also want to learn to cook with you, make healthy choices and to savor all our meals and to that I give you The Chef's Wife's Cookbook.