Thank You
My warmest and heartfelt thanks to all my friends of “The Journey Girl!” You have faithfully stayed with me on this journey that started as an innocent, ignorant idea that I might be able to write a Blog. Trust me, there was nothing in my background that prepared me for this adventure. It has truly been an exciting and sometimes frustrating learning experience as I struggled with learning to navigate a website, edit photos, add content and tried to remember the rules of grammar. You have supported me, encouraged me, laughed with me and stuck with me as I learned. You have shared my stories and recipes, shared my Facebook Page, made wonderful kind comments and generally encouraged me to continue.
The result of all that is this cookbook. A cookbook that so many of you asked me to write. I have long wanted to write this book, dreamed about it even, but never quite got to it. But, I love to read and to write almost as much as I love cooking! Cooking distracts me, focuses me, relaxes me and lets me explore my creative side. I always say that I solve all the world’s problems while standing at my stove. Besides that, we get to eat really well! What finally got me sitting for hours and hours at my desk and computer going through countless recipes are our grandchildren. We don’t live anywhere near these little ones and I can’t make with them the memories I made cooking with my Mom, Grandma and Auntie. I wanted to somehow show them that I think about them day and night and wanted to share with them that cooking is not just about food. It is about making memories to last a lifetime. I want to thank my husband who has patiently tasted everything I cook even if it is not on his list of favorites. He does offer suggestions at times and he always offers them kindly. So, don’t give up on your dreams. Some dreams just take longer to fulfill than others.
For customers living in the continental US, please click the Buy Now button above to purchase your copy (or copies) of my first cookbook! You will be taken to Paypal to check out and enter your shipping address.
Journey on!
“The Journey Girl Cooks” contains 201 much loved recipes. I had planned on 200 hundred recipes but my final count was 201, so with a smile I said “so be it, as there is not one that I wanted to leave out. I have been blessed with traveling around the globe and had to include a few of the dishes I fell in love with during our travels. Dishes like Chicken Paprikash from Hungary and Goat Cheese Tapas from Spain. I am also blessed with having made friends from around the globe and had to include the most mouth watering, decadent “Boeuf Bourguignon” recipe from my friend in Paris, Katia. I have southern roots from my dad who was born and raised in Georgia. So there are recipes that honor those roots, like my cornbread and Gilbert’s Gumbo. Because both Dan and I enjoy trying ethnic foods in our travels I have included curries, Bavarian Glühwein, Irish Colcannon and Moroccan Lamb Stew. You asked for Slow Cooker recipes because we are all real people with real time constraints so I know you’re going to love Balsamic Roast Pork slow cooker style. Who doesn’t love dessert? Greek style creamy Rice Pudding is pure comfort food and it wouldn’t be Christmas at our house without Italian Chocolate Cookies.
Potlucks, Church Suppers, new baby, some one’s passing or you have a large family to feed. Casseroles fit that bill and I have included several of them for your enjoyment. From my Mom’s “Escalloped Chicken Dinner” to my every one loves it ” Lazy Pierogi Casserole.”
Dan grows a huge garden for us and we both love vegetables so yes, I have included a few of our favorites that I hope will become yours. I in particular enjoy cooking from “scratch” and my Country Sage Breakfast Sausage goes together quickly and is delicious!
The holidays are here and that means appetizers! Hot Pepper Cheesecake is one of my favorites but we both love seafood and Savory Smoked Trout Spread and Smokes Salmon Squares are sure to please.
So, as always, thanks for stopping by today my friends. I appreciate everyone of you! Most of all I hope you will gather your loved ones, friends and family and cook away, making memories to last a lifetime.
Hugs and much love from me,
Karen, TJG
For customers living in the continental US, please click the Buy Now button above to purchase your copy (or copies) of my first cookbook! You will be taken to Paypal to check out and enter your shipping address.