Cookin'Diva

about me

I hope the photo makes you smile - I have so many fond memories of cooking with my mom and my Grandma, who passed away in 2007. They were huge inspirations in the kitchen, and in their honor, I published a family cookbook in 1992 and distributed 200 copies. Since then, I've been creating, photographing and cataloging recipes, making me a perfect candidate for 'zaar!

My own recipe collection is a bit eclectic. I've posted decadent recipes as well as heart-healthy ones, to help my family keep balance in life. For as my mother would love to tell you, "Too much of a good thing is BAD."

My husband is famous for his long, slow smoked BBQ. With most recipes, his motto would be, "add more". That refers to anything that provides more flavor, like more garlic, more herbs, more spice. He loves recipes that assault your taste buds!


Our cooking legacy has now passed on to both our kids. Our daughter "Cookin'Mindy" graduated from Purdue and is working full time, but has started a page here on recipezaar.


Our son Clayton, studies at Purdue and has started cooking in his apartment. To help him along, once a month I send him "dinner in a box", which includes an easy recipe and all the non-perishable ingredients. His roommates apparently love this idea!


All in all, we're a family that loves to eat, so we try very hard to stay active to keep those extra pounds from catching up to us.

My other hobbies....tennis (the best 4.5 doubles team), working at church (MCC), small group friends, La-Pa reunions, traveling (Siesta Key), family gatherings, photography and video.

Favorite Foods:

My favorite foods: Italian, healthy adaptations, baked items, salads, BBQ (my hubby has a huge BBQ smoker and loves to fire it up), and all things chocolate (small bites, I promise!)

Dishes I'm known for....Italian foods, Cranberry Bliss Bars, and other decadent desserts.

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