Sydney Mike

about me

Originally from rural northeastern Montana, I settled in Southern California in the mid-1960s. Sometime after retiring I moved to the high desert of San Bernardino County and enjoy it here very much.




I enjoy baking especially during the summertime's fresh fruit period and for the winter holidays. I've been told that when I bake, I'm raisin-crazy, and I suppose that's pretty accurate!

I have two children ~ a married daughter who lives in Tennessee, & who, in turn has 3 daughters & a grandson; my son is married & living here in Southern California about 11 miles away. My life partner & I have been together since 2001 & have a miniature schnauzer named Valentino [His buddy AND MINE ~ Giacomo ~ died in 2006].

Beginning in Sep 2001 I started working part-time as a model for life-drawing & photography classes at a local community college. In 2007 I branched out to a 2nd college about 45 miles away, but considering the price of gas, I'm not sure how long that one will last!

I adopted 25 chefs during the Spring PAC 2007 & made 100 recipes. In the same event, I was adopted by Diana #2.

I signed up for the Apron Swap in Jun 07, which was hosted by Bert's Kitchen Witch, & was partnered with Diana #2.


Participated in the Australian/New Zealand Recipe Swap #14, Mar 08, & made 94 recipes ~ Was teamed with blancpage, Chef on the coast, happynana & PainterCook in Group #14, The Curried Currajongs.




I'm an active participant in 7 or 8 recipe tag games, including Please Review My Recipe cooking game,


the Beverage Tag Game,


the Newest Zaar Tag cooking game (unreviewed recipes),



Bargain Basement Game,


1-2-3 Hit Wonders cooking game,

Zaar Stars Recipe Tag (recipes with 5 or more reviews),


Every Day Is a Holiday cooking game,

Potluck Tag Game,

Went to the Market,

Zaar Chef Alphabet Soup Game,


Healthy Choices ABC,

I Recommend...

& Make My Recipe!

I participated in the Australian/New Zealand Recipe Swap #15, Apr 08, & made 12 recipes. In Group #14, Hakea, my teammembers were Stardustannie, Chickee, & French Tart.


I also tagged in the Australian/New Zealand Recipe Swap #16, May 08, & made 90 recipes ~ My teammates in Group #13, Grevillia, were French Tart, CHILI SPICE & Leggy Peggy.


I was adopted by Midwest Maven during Spring PAC 2008, & during the same event, I adopted a large brood of 107 chefs & made 303 recipes! Then, at the end of PAC & when the Orphanage opened up, I adopted 11 orphaned chefs & made another 26 recipes!


I participated in the Cookbook Swap in Apr-May 08 & was partnered with Lauralie41.


A little belatedly I signed on for the Summer Salad and Berry Recipe Challange for May '08, hosted in the Topic of the Month Forum!


I was 'volunteered' as Team Captain

of THE FIGHTING FOURCHETES while on Zaar's World Tour 4,

which ran from 24 May through 11 Jul 2008, & my ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING teammates were evelyn/athens, Gerry 999, Chef Kate, susie cooks, Julie B's Hive, Sarah_Jayne, Scarlett516 & morgainegeiser.


In June '08 I tagged in My-3-Chefs event hosted by kiwidutch! My tag themes were Cranberry, Chocolate, Raisin, Sandwich, Finger Food, Chicken Breast, Non-Alcoholic Beverage, Sauce & Chutney!


I joined in the Australian/New Zealand Recipe Swap #17, Jun 08 & my teammates in Group 1, Banksia, were AmandaInOz, PaulaG & Baby Kato!


In Jul 08 I hooked up with the Australian/New Zealand Recipe Swap #18, & my teammates in Group 11, Golden Wattle, were AmandaInOz (again), MeliBug & Jen T!


I tagged & cooked during Aug 08 in the Australian/New Zealand SPECIAL Recipe Swap #19, which included adopting a 'joey' or newbie Aus/NZ chef! I was in Group 17 ~ Baby Quoll, & my teammates were LARavenscroft, BarbryT & Mom2Rose! AND, I adopted 16 Joeys!

In Aug 08 I also tagged in the Vegetarian/Vegan Recipe Swap, in 3 groups = Group 2 ~ Banana, where I swapped VEGAN RECIPES with Dreamer in Ontario, Kozmic Blues & Enjolinfam

in Group 6 ~ Grape, I swapped RAW FOOD RECIPES with RawFoodNut & ~Rita~

& in Group 13 ~ Strawberry, I swapped VEGETARIAN RECIPES with Pneuma, Ravenseyes & Laffer!

In Aug 08 I'm participating in the Bi Annual Cookbook Swap, & am partnered with Sage.



I'm signed up for the Vegetarian/Vegan Recipe Swap 2 for Sep 08.

Favorite Foods:

My most 'famous' dish is probably my Outrageous Carrot Cake, although the Strawberry Disaster Cake is a close second. However, I really enjoy baking fruit pies, and find great enjoyment in combining several fruits together. One I'm particularly fond of is my apple cranberry pie, and when I say cranberry, I mean CRANBERRY!

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