Cooking is very therapeutic. When I cook and eat in silence, slowly, savoring every bite, I feel calm. I don't have any specific recipes but I love making my breakfast in the morning:

Oatmeal with an apple and a handful of nuts, with a cup of green tea. I just love making it. And it's soo healthy and replenishing of nourishment after a good workout. :)

I love these Lemon Cheesecake Bars from www.verybestbaking.com
http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/detail.aspx?ID=29655

I don't have a specific recipe per se but I think turkey is a good winter food. It might sound crazy but I don't freeze as bad in the cold weather if I eat turkey.

Several months ago, I ordered foods from Gullah and today gumbo w/shrimp sounds good. Creole food is delicious.

GINGER POT ROAST ( slow cooker)

1 2 pound beef chuck roast
1 tbs. cooking oil
1 cup water
8 gingersnaps, crumbled
2 tbs red wine vingar
1 tsp instant beef bouillion
1/8 tsp ground red peper
3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered
3 medium carrots or 2 medium parsnips peeled and cut into bite size chunks
1 bay leaf

1. trim fat off of meat. In a large skillet brown roast on all sides in hot oil. Meanwhile, in small bowl combine water, gingersnaps vinegar, bouillion and red pepper. place sweet potatoes, carrots, and bay leaf in a slow cooker. Place meat on top of veggies, then pour gingersnap mix over meat.

2. cover and let cook on low heat setting for ten to tweleve hours or on high heat for five to six hours.

3. Transfer meat and veggies to a platter. Remove bay leaf. Skim fat from gravy, then stir gravy to combine, ladle over roast and veggies.

I was thinking of starting this topic, guess Someone wants it done... anyway, this recipe, if you like cilantro in salsa, is really simple and really good!

Simple Yummy Authentic Salsa

1 large can of stewed tomatoes
1 med onion
1/2 bunch of cilantro
1 small can green peppers

I use the can of tomatoes to mix with the other ingredients in a food processor, or you can chop it all up by hand - either way will work. Let it sit for a 1/2 hour or so to let the flavors blend. Serve on top of nachos, tacos, whatever. Yum!!

easy apple torte..

im not sure on the measurables i just eye it..

8 inch iron skillet
enough granny smith apples to fill
peeled, pitted and sliced evenly
1/2 to 1 cup of sugar
cinnamon (fresh grated or not)

i could tell you a dough recipe but to make it easy but a puff pastry sheet in your local frozen food section.. nice light and crispy

on the stove top melt the sugar down over medium heat you can add a dash of water if need be.. note* remove from heat before its dark brown.. it will burn from the residual heat.. better to remove once its a light brown.

add a layer of apples going in a circle then fill the middle.. it will look nice once finished..then sprinkle a layer of cinnamon. repeat the process until its to the top..

cover with the pastry sheet.. cut four slits for the steam to escape..

now the puff pastry package will say 400 degress or something.. do not bake it that high or it will cook too fast and your apples will not cook.. instead bake it around 300 for 30-40 minutes or until its golden brown.. it will not puff trust me..

if youve never cooked with apples.. peel
cut in half.. core it then slice.. easy.. no fancy cuts..

once its finish set it to the side for 5-10 minutes.. get your serving plate and place it on top of the crust then turn it over..

top it with fresh or store brand whipped cream and fresh mint.

fresh whipped:
heavy cream
powered sugar
vanilla extract or bean

take a cup of cream and whip it with a ballon wisk.. the bigger the wisk the more air it will produce making it a lil easier.. whip until its as thick as you like..

add powder sugar to taste.. traditional recipes do not call for that much sugar but i find if you add more it has that sweet cool whip flavor..

add a 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of vanilla.. once again.. depending on your taste.. im not sure about the specific measurements once again i just eye it..

i have an different recipe with pie crust and that brown sugar/cinnamon flavor but ey.. i dont feel like typing anymore

and that would be a cast iron skillet..