MarthaStewartWanabe

about me

My name is Rebecca, but my family and friends call me Becky. I am 28 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 five years and are expecting our first child in January 2009--a little girl! Every day, I am amazed at how my body is creating this life inside me. Wanting to provide the best care for our little "seedling" has encouraged me to be more skeptical about the food I put into my body. I have read a lot about the affects of preservatives, pesticides, artificial colorings and sweeteners, caffeine and others and try my best to avoid them. I have friends and family with food allergies, so I know how difficult it is to cope with food restrictions. I am skilled at and enjoy cooking for those with food allergies but can't imagine making it an every-day affair. Just recently I have been challenged with high blood pressure in my pregnancy, so I am reducing or eliminating sodium from my diet. What a challenge! Hopefully God will see fit to bless us with a healthy, strong little girl.

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 the Food Network 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 for three years. I love my job. I not only coordinate board functions, do secretarial work in the Administration Office and supervise Reception, but my bosses allow me the opportunity to build relationships with the nursing home residents. Because my coworkers and residents know cooking and baking is my passion, I have earned quite a reputation. My boss and I have done a cooking program with the residents, where we involved them in making simple dishes and sharing with the rest of the unit. I am now doing a baking program each month with the residents, called "Becky's Birthday Bakery". I bake a different type of cake each month to celebrate the residents' birthdays which take place that month. Cooking and baking with the residents 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 smell of fresh-baked bread, cake or cookies 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.

I have to say Recipezaar has given me much joy. I first visited the website in search of a quick chicken breast 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!



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Favorite Foods:

I don't really have a particularly favorite food. Those who know me best know I actually have difficulty commiting to the word "favorite". I do like Italian cuisine and enjoy Tuscan-style dishes, but I'll try anything.

My husband and I enjoy fine cuisine, so we are always in search of interesting restaurants with a reputation for excellence. My personal favorite restaurants so far (just to name a few) are:

- Mario's Italian Steakhouse, Rochester, NY
- The Olive Tree (Greek), Rochester, NY
- The Red Osier (known for its prime rib), Stafford, NY
- Thai Cuisine, Ithaca, NY
- Tanino Ristorante Italiano, Horseheads, NY
- Thali of India, Rochester, NY

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