Ray Brinzer

Cooking has long been an interest of mine, but it only became practical enough to become a hobby once I had a family of my own. It’s more fun cooking for other people, I find, and now I have a regular clientèle.

Following recipes isn’t really an interest of mine. Some dishes have very exact requirements, so it’s sometimes necessary, but for the most part I’m interested in learning different cooking techniques, and what different ingredients do. I figure recipes are merely how good cooks explain what they do.

So, when I decide I want to make something, I read several recipes for it, get a general sense of what’s supposed to happen, and then go at it. When possible, I start with the most basic ingredients, though sometimes I start with certain ready-made parts, get the hang of the dish itself, and later learn to make those components. And I rarely measure anything; I figure estimating is an important skill. As necessary, I adjust as I go, judging by taste, texture, or such.

Surprisingly, things usually turn out reasonably well the first time. From there, it’s a matter of evaluating the results and making adjustments, like anything else you learn empirically.

Lately Felabi has been making chicken empanadas, starting with pre-made disks. I’m pretty good at stir-frying, but I’ve never deep-fried before, so this was interesting to me. After a few meals, I figured that these would make good desserts, as well; I decided to try making them with apple pie filling. Read more »

Since I was a child, I, like so many others, have been the victim of a sinister conspiracy.

The bad flavors of freezer pops always outnumber the good ones. Are we to assume that the people making these things don’t know this? That they actually believe that banana and coconut are as good as lime and cherry, or that they don’t notice how many more of the former they’re making than the latter?

Coconut. Really, who thought that was a good idea?

Don’t mind me, though. I’m behind on posts, and I set out to try to do one a day. What you want for nothing, a rubber biscuit?