Hello Friend,
If you’ve read my Louisa’s Vineyard Series books, you’ll notice that I’ve included recipes at the back of each book. My characters have experience in the kitchen, so eating and creating food is natural for them. They also love cooking and developing impromptu feasts. And don’t forget their being involved in wedding feasts and the cake!
Becoming a competent cook didn’t come naturally to me, at first.
Lucky for me, I persevered after my first time cooking for my family. I was a Scout and wanted to earn my cooking badge. I often assisted my mom in preparing our meals, so I thought it’d be easy.
My mom used a commercially available mushroom soup, which was to be part of the meal I’d prepare. I didn’t notice that she always used milk in preparing the soup, not the water that was included in the can’s directions. The other part of the meal was to be grilled cheese sandwiches. Things didn’t go well.
The soup tasted bland and watery. If I remember correctly, I burned the grilled cheese sandwiches. It all seemed so simple, but I learned not to take things for granted.
Through the years, my cooking ability improved. What I learned most was to improvise. If I didn’t have an ingredient, I’d find a substitute. My ex praised one recipe I made.
“What’s the recipe?” he asked. “It was great.”
I told him what I’d made, but explained I changed some ingredients.
“So, it isn’t that recipe?”
“Well, it is, but I added different ingredients and changed things a little.”
“Oh.”
His disappointment was not encouraging.
The only time when I actually threw out the dinner, other than the mushroom soup disaster, was when I prepared a sauerbraten from a pre-soured roast I purchased commercially. I made the mistake of following the directions, which called for using the sauerbraten “as is” from the package.
Oooh! It was so sour that my tastebuds felt like I’d pickled them! I should have drained the vinegary mess and only used one cup for the eventual sauce.
My cooking prowess has improved exponentially since then. Even a souffle is doable.
Thus, when it was time to write my stories, food became an important element. The Watsons own a vineyard, which has a restaurant. Will worked in the restaurant, where he learned to make any dish they served. He’s so good that Louisa adores his lobster bisque! (Louisa’s great with meat dishes, like Spaghetti and Meatballs.)
You’re invited to read about the food and enjoy the recipes I include. I offer adaptations for gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan diners.
My best wishes for a delightful and loving Valentine’s Day!
Warmest regards,
