This is Mike. I’ve cooked dinner for my family every night* since 1999. When I started, it was just me and Diane (my lovely wife); now I’m cooking for Ben (age 7), Natalie (5) and Tim (3) as well. Home cooking is my hobby, my way of relaxing, and my obsession**.
*OK, maybe not EVERY night. You know what I mean. We only go out to eat about once every two weeks, and Diane cooks dinner every now and again. But, I plan all our meals, do all the grocery shopping, and cook dinner 9 nights out of 10, if not more often.
**…OK, OK, you got me. Not my only obsession. But it’s the big one.
We live in the Akron, Ohio area – that’s just south of Cleveland, if you didn’t know. I try to cook locally, seasonally, and ethnically (if that’s a word.) But, that’s a goal, not a hard and fast rule for me. The kids are picky eaters, but we’ve managed to make them picky eaters across multiple cultures – Mexican (corn tortillas, plain), Italian (pasta, plain), Asian (White/Jasmine/Basmati rice, plain) and American (Chicken Nuggets, Fries, hamburgers, hot dogs)*.
*Chicken Nuggets…shudder.
Also, you should know – I’m a geek. (Try to act surprised.) To paraphrase my hero, Alton Brown –
I’ve learned a few things over the last nine years, and I’m constantly trying to give tips and advice to my friends and family about how to cook*. I’ve been reading other food blogs, and I wanted to start sharing MY obsessions about food with the world.“Teach a geek to cook, and you get a blog.”
*It’s to the point that they all come to me with questions about cooking. Or try to avoid me, so I don’t start telling them how to “do it right”. Either way, I figured I better start sharing, or they’ll all stop talking to me.
So, World, are you ready?*
(*Gulp. Am I ready?)
[Update 8/25/2009]
Ben, Natalie and Tim are 8,6 and 4 now, and I’ve had a great year with the blog. Read about it here:
I just got a rotisserie. I can’t wait to try some your recipes.I think ribs will be interesting to try on the rotisserie.
This website is awesome.
@Anonymous:
Thank you! Good luck with the rotisserie. If you have any questions, leave a comment in the appropriate recipe and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
@Janice:
Thank you, and welcome!
I just found your website and I’m really excited. I can’t wait to try the recipes, they look like things my husband will love. JB
thanks!
Great recipes. I share your passion, but not your skills. yet.
I purchased a pressure cooker and the short ribs were to best and fastest I ever made, thanks to you.
More Please.
jancan
@jancan:
I’ll do my best – thank you!
I recently found your website and really like the recipes. Especially the rotisserie ones. I bought a 2010 Weber Genesis EP-320 last fall and got it mainly for the rotisserie capability. I guess the 2011 models with the N/S burner configuration are better overall than the prior models but you can’t beat the E/W burner configuration for rotisserie cooking.
I do a lot of grilling with charcoal as I have two charcoal grills as well. A weber 22.5 OTG and a Chargriller Superpro.
I enjoyed your review on the Weber Gourmet Grate System as I bought the system with the griddle several months ago. Look forward to giving this system a try!