Jenni's Profile

I may not be a big foodie in my mid 30’s, but I’m about to graduate from the Culinary Institute of America with my Bachelor’s degree in March! I want to be a food writer in a magazine, so I’m trying to blog everyday. (http://www.jennithebaker.blogspot.com)

My Junior year food and wine trip was quite possibly the most amazing experience of my life. A month of good food, great food, bad food…I fell in LOVE in red wine, had some good wine and bad wine. It was an amazing trip overall. Amazing NorCal weather..June-July and not a day of fog. I am pretty sure I blogged about it here.

I love trying new things, baking with fresh stuff and getting my hands on the latest gadgets. I need to work on my cake decor skills, but I’m working on it…I really don’t care anymore. I have very poor hand muscles, and I know that cakes aren’t something I’m in love with doing, and I’m good at other things anyway. What I am good at is cookies, brownies, Crisps, sauces, fruit desserts and cakes (before decor). I love to try new recipes, if anyone wants to swap recipes let me know! Some of my faves are on my blog.

I really love trying diners of all kind. But I also like the occasional nice restaurant, but only infrequently. Sometimes you just want a cheesy, oniony pattie melt. But I’ve been to really wonderful restaurants with my boyfriend that we’ve both really enjoyed.

I’m 22 now, I only drink infrequently. I really enjoy white wine, but love red wine more, and like to try new drinks when the situation allows.

I LOVED going to Culinary School, it made me so much less picky! I used to be a horribly picky eater, but now if it smells good, I’m going to try it. I’m really going to miss the Chefs and the food. And the campus and the clubs and everything else! As usual I talked too much…I guess this isnt a nutshell…to quote Austin Powers, this is me in a nutshell “Help! Help! Im in a nutshell!” but I digress…..

(“People say I’m strange, I say they just dont GET IT!”)

As I said, I love diners. I love summer because of the fresh produce (But I loooveee fall best). I had my first tree fresh peach in the summer visiting my boyfriend’s home state, North Carolina and it was yummy…made it into a yummy Peach Crisp with fresh Caramel sauce (another specialty)

So, after my NorCal Food and Wine Seminar Trip, I have fallen in LOVE with red wine. Well, certain kinds. I love a mellow Syrah or a good Cab. I also love Savs. Chards to me taste a bit off, but I love lots of other wines whose name I cant remember =( But I’ve gone from someone who shudders at the very smell of red wine to someone who..umm..”ahhs”[?] at the smell of it. =) But 1.5 glasses of wine and I get very sleepy, but that’s okay.

I liked pulled pork BBQ (and bbq brisket), Slovakia, potato skins, asparagus, green beans, I am a burger junkie, yummy fresh produce, ketchup, soft chocolate chip cookies, good white wine, cherries, onion rings, turkey burgers, KETCHUP, hand cut French fries, things drowned in ketchup, fruits, the food at school, ASIAN FOOD! boyfriend‘s cooking, SOME soups, grilled veggie paninis, GOOD Chinese food…I could be here forever. I am currently getting into brown rice and tofu! I never thought I would EVER say that!!

I like simplicity. Sometimes I can outeat my boyfriend and inhale burgers and meals and other times I dont eat much. I try to eat what I like in moderation and work out a few times a week to stay in shape and healthy.

I’m happy to give advice when I can, I know a lot of great cookbooks and recipes and places to eat in my area, I really don’t expect you to take me too seriously, since I’m only 21, but I’m happy to help out!

Here’s a little tip I’ve picked up over the years of baking….if something doesn’t come out quite right, like a cake, or bar cookies or brownies, you can put “Gooey” in front of the title and everyone loves them. And you can put “Rustic” in front of stuff that didn’t come out exactly “pretty” and no one will know the difference. =) (Like “Gooey” Brownies or “Rustic” Biscuits.)