Past Picky Habits

I just have to say, it really sucks realizing just how amazing food is, so late in the game. All I can say is that I'm glad I figured it out now and not even farther down the road. I used to be SUCH a picky eater...I would hardly touch ANYthing that looked even remotely out of the ordinary (and even some foods that were 'ordinary'...I mean, I didn't eat pizza until I was in 8th grade and that's pretty much the most ordinary food there is...Looking back, I missed out on A LOT of amazing foods and tastes.

I used to go camping with a friend and her family. Her step-mom made the meals and used to have to force me to clean my plate, and even then, I tip-toed my way around eating everything...She didn't cook anything irregular, it was all food that most people should like and enjoy, foods full of flavor and all things that I've eaten recently and loved. It was just all in my head. I would think to myself, "this is going to be gross" and then I'd have the worse time trying to get it down.

If I could go back in time, I'd definitely go back and slap past me and force pizza, sushi, zucchini, omelets, lobster, etc down my throat and maybe I would've learned to appreciate what I eat a bit more.

Thankfully I'm pretty much over those habits of the past. I enjoy trying new things and the best is when trying something I wouldn't have even touched in the past and find that I absolutely LOVE it and can't wait to eat more of it.

Just remember, go out and try everything, don't pass up something that could be completely amazing.

Tis the Season

December has been proving to be quite the crazy month (when isn't it?) But I've found time to work magic in the kitchen. Some friends and I prepared a Holiday dinner last week complete with veggies, cheesy potatoes, and holiday ham. I brought dessert and am thanking God that I didn't have to work the night before or they might not have gotten done! I've always had a soft spot for Red Velvet and chances are, if I'm making cupcakes, I'm making Red Velvet. It's been a while since I've done any baking and it felt good to be back into the swing of things.

I made everything from scratch with the exception of the garnish of Andes Mints. I did my signature Cream Cheese frosting and then went as far as to heat up the blade of a knife and cut diagonally through each Andes Mint to stick on top. It's always my favorite part to put each cupcake together and even though hours of work goes into them, they're gone in under a minute--again, totally worth it.

It was so funny, we were all so stuffed from eating so much for dinner, but somehow, everyone always finds room for dessert. I think its just a bit more fun when each

dessert looks like a work of art. I've always have had an artistic background, heck, its what I went to school for...I love being able to apply my artistic abilities not only on a computer or sketch pad, but in the kitchen as well.

Now on Friday we have our Company Christmas lunch and everyone gets to bring something. I'd rather put in the extra work on Thursday night and make something awesome than not bring anything. So far I haven't signed up to bring anything, and part of the reason being -I don't want to ruin the surprise, but mostly because I'm stumped as to what to bring! There's so many different things I could bring and I'm narrowing it down to desserts, what I decide, that'll just have to wait (better be fast as I have to run for supplies tomorrow during lunch.....)

I don't know what it is, but December roles around and I just snap into the Christmas mood. I love this time of the year and being able to give is truly an amazing feeling. I love doing secret santa, giving tree, and picking everything out for the people I care about. Last year I started the tradition of giving cupcakes as gifts (seemed appropriate for the poor college student who loved to bake) Little (or big) bites of pure bliss to make the Holidays Merry :)

~*~Tis the Season~*~