hostlaura

Jersey Shore, NJ

I love everything about cooking! I delight in the aromas that fill the kitchen, I enjoy tweaking recipes to make them my own, and I have a good time winging it by simply combining the ingredients that I have on hand. I especially love that cooking draws people to the table. There's no better way to enjoy your family and friends then by having great times and wonderful conversations over a meal. I look forward to "mixing" it up with all of you here! I've been a message board moderator for Meredith since 2007. I've also been participating and working on message boards since 1997. I have a Liberal Arts degree and have worked as a newspaper reporter and editor.

hostlaura Interests

• Baking
• Cooking for Kids
• Desserts
• Food & Wine Pairings
• Grilling
• Healthy Eating
• Holidays & Entertaining
• Quick & Easy
• Slow Cooker

• Badges & Trophies (2)
• 
• 

Points earned: 17,070

My Saved Recipes

• Microwave Peanut Brittle

  This peanut brittle is SO easy and delicious! I've made it many times...its addicting! I used toasted almonds instead of peanuts. This recipe was posted on a cooking site by a member named Gail Herbest! I love her recipes!

  07/31/2011 03:28 PM

• Sweet Spinach Salad

  Vince's is a great Italian place. When I saw this on the menu,I just had to try it. Loved it so much went home a wrote down all the ingredients. This is my take on that salad. I make it about once a week with all the fresh fruit now available at the farmers market.

  07/31/2011 10:00 AM

• Corn and Sausage Chowder

  07/31/2011 07:14 AM

• Michael's Favorite Muffins

  This muffin recipe is a favorite of my son, Michael. It's a basic recipe and I've found you can add just about any ingredients you'd like and the end result is always good. We like to add mini chocolate chips into the basic muffin mix or add them to the banana version. Yum! I've also baked the muffins in mini muffin pans for bite sized treats.

  07/13/2011 11:32 AM

• Falafel with Tahini Sauce

  I play with the seasoning in this recipe everytime I make it. I add more lemon and garlic and adjust the others depending on what I feel like that day. If I feel like more heat I'll add red pepper flakes into the mix too. My 13-year-old loves this recipe, but the Tahini is a little too much for him. He puts mayo on his ;)

  07/12/2011 08:10 PM