MarthaStewartWanabe

About Me

My name is Rebecca, but my family and friends call me Becky. I am 30 years old and live in Rochester, New York, USA. I am a life-long resident of Western New York and can't say as I'd ever want to live anywhere else. I grew up on a small dairy farm in rural Western New York and love country living. Although my husband and I live in a suburb right now, we hope someday to move back to our roots and live a peaceful country life.

My husband and I have been married eight years.  We have a beautiful 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son.  I am amazed at how quickly our kids are growing and developing.  I read a lot about and hold my own personal skepticism regarding the affects of additives such as preservatives, hormones, artificial colorings, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, allergens, etc.  With the increasing number of children and adults with food allergies, I am suspicious that the last 50 years of food industry "improvements" have contributed.  I'm doing the best I can to protect my family from the risks, but it is difficult to avoid every additive.  I have friends and family with food allergies and know how difficult it is to cope with food restrictions. I enjoy the challenge of cooking for those with food allergies but can't imagine making it an every-day affair.

I love to cook and entertain for family and friends. It's a great joy for me to serve them delicious, creative dishes. I always anticipate their feedback when they try something I've made. My favorite and most-utilized recipe source is RecipeZaar. In close second is the 12th Edition of the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. I enjoy exploring new cooking techniques and experimenting with various ethnic cuisines. I am an avid viewer of Food Network and the Cooking Channel, always looking for new and interesting ideas.

I work at a nursing home as an Executive Assistant to the President and Administrator and have been there since 2005. I love my job. I coordinate board functions, do secretarial work in the Administration Office and supervise Reception as well as enjoy building relationships with the elders. Because coworkers and elders know cooking and baking is my passion, I have earned a reputation. My boss and I have done a cooking program with the elders, where we involved them in making simple dishes and sharing with the rest of the elders in the "neighborhood". I have done a baking program, where we baked a different type of cake each month to celebrate the elders' birthdays which take place that month. I have also been involved in special "neighborhood" luncheons where the staff in our "neighborhood" cooks for and serves a small group of elders. And then of course there are various staff potlucks throughout the year. Cooking and baking with the elders brings them so much joy and comfort, as it helps to make the nursing home feel a little more like "home". It's amazing what the aroma of food cooking and fresh-baked goods can do for the mind and soul!

I identify cooking with feelings of accomplishment, peace of mind and reminiscence. My favorite childhood memories involve cooking with my mother and grandmother. We would enjoy one another's company while cooking for family gatherings. It was always a family effort harvesting, canning and freezing vegetables and fruit in the summer/fall. I wasn't aware at the time, but I was learning generations of recipes and tricks of the trade that would carry through my life and hopefully eventually through my children.  We are doing our best to raise them with an appreciation for good, fresh and healthy food and different cooking techniques.  My daughter has a play kitchen set and pretends to cook and feed her baby dolls while I prepare meals. Now I would say that's a good start!  And so adorable!

Recipezaar has given me much joy. I first visited the website in search of a quick chicken recipe and have been hooked ever since, recommending the site to my friends and family. I enjoy posting my recipes and anticipate other viewers' reviews and ratings. The website has encouraged me to become more inventive in the kitchen. Some "mad scientist" attempts are successful, whereas others may flop. But I have realized you'll never know unless you try! Fortunately, I have my loving and tolerant husband as my primary critic and sometimes unfortunate guinea pig. God love him!