Shannon's All American Cafe

Over the last 10 years...pretty much since I started grad school and went out on my own...I've developed a love for cooking. I've always liked, actually LOVED food, but I grew up in a household that did not necessarily appreciate good, diverse, healthy foods. In all fairness, my mother did the best she could.  She was a single, working mom and often had to cut corners. She also never liked fruits and veggies, so she rarely bought or cooked them. Needless to say, we ate a lot of chicken fingers, spaghetti and fast food. Until I went to grad school, I had never tried Indian, Thai, or anything resembling Middle Eastern foods. I had no idea what I was missing!

As I discovered these culinary delights and began to expand my horizons, I started cooking more and more. I had always been pretty good in the kitchen. My stepmother and I often baked when I was growing up and I always liked helping my mother and stepmother with dinner. But I had never cooked or baked because I wanted to try something new or learn a new technique or find a healthier way to cook something.

I started mostly with baking while in grad school.  I realized early on that when you bake delicious treats like muffins and cookies, your fellow grad students LOVE being in class with you. I realized that not only did I like working in the kitchen and trying new recipes, but I loved the praise I would get when something was particularly good. Who doesn't love that!

So, I baked and baked. In 2004, when I started my first job in my new hometown of Washington DC, I realized that I was going to have to start cooking more and eating out less. In grad school in Miami, my roommates and I spent a lot of time eating out and accumulating a corresponding amount of debt.

I've also always struggled with my weight and wanted to work on that as well. So, with my new job and new home and new town, I changed my lifestyle.  Not only did I start eating healthier, but I started learning how to cook that way as well.  For the last seven years I have become a skilled, amateur sous chef and a pretty fantastic pastry aficionado.

After I met my husband and we settled down into our new home in Northern VA, I embraced cooking for two.  Until then, I was only cooking for one and I was my only critic. Now I have my husband and a great circle of friends as guinea pigs...not to mention my coworkers.

About two  years ago, I rediscovered my love for baking.  Before long, I was making killer cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies anyone would be envious of.  Every time I bring some delicious treat in to share with my coworkers or send some treats to work with my husband, I always hear, "you should do this for a living."  That would be my dream job!  Unfortunately, that costs money.

Some day I would love to own a little bakery/cafe/coffee shop. I think I would call it Shannon's All American Cafe.  At least that's what I envision.  It's a lofty goal and unlikely to happen at all.  But in the meantime, I am combining my passions: food, cooking, baking, and writing.

So, welcome to my new blog, food love, a discussion about food, cooking, baking, health, life, love, nutrition, dieting...I could go one. You name it, I'll probably write about it. But I will always bring it around back to food. 

Keep an eye out for my next blog entry.  The husband and I are making pork stirfry this weekend...a never before attempted dish which I  hope will not be a disaster.