From Sunny SD

Cooking...a ride that takes you through all of your sensations, starting from buying the ingredients to the first salivating bite that you're about to devour. Every time someone steps into a kitchen getting ready to cook for an intimate dinner or to cooking for a large rowdy crowd, they will always feel the burden tossed onto their backs. But when I step into a kitchen, I feel like every pain or stress is completely released. The stress of a final physics exam or my father reminding me to sweep up the back patio; they all evaporate into thin air-at least for the moment-and I feel like anything that I want to create is a chop away from me. Sometimes they were disasters and sometimes I feel like they must be shared!

So to all out there that are reading this blog, Sierra and I want to share the same feelings, joys and pleasure that we go through from 3,000 miles apart. I want you to be able to be proud of the same dish that we smiled over in our own kitchens.

We knew that it was going to be hard to stay in contact with each other when both of us are so busy; but with a blog we can still hear and enjoy what adventures and mishaps that we came across or the latest curious fruit that rested in our hands. So starting from now we want you to also enjoy our crazy ride in the world of food that we started from a young age but we will always continue and hopefully with others aboard. Every time something fascinating or new gets introduced in your world of food we would like to hear about it also; whether it went good...or bad!

Hopefully every week we will be able to share little tid-bits that will be enjoyable to read. In the RECIPE BOOK we will put up the delicious recipes that we felt like must be used by others and so we can also hear how they went for you.

Enjoy; or should I say...Bon Appetit, Guten Appetit, Buon Appetito, Buen Provecho, Sahten!

J

Posting from DR

So here I am, posting from a three-story building in the middle of the Dominican Republic. Thinking about food and what's for dinner.

Before I get to the kitchen though, let me say that the purpose of this blog for me is, not only to post about the food here in the DR, but to stay connected with my friend Japheth on the other side of the continent. If you're reading this, you probably already are fond of the way food has a special way of connecting- the smells, heat, and textures that can tickle and slip through your hands - all of these create some of the best memories for people young and old, across cultures and time. Cooking together through the internet will transcend the barrier of land and sea, and keep us together. So, here we go! Two kids who love to cook, and to eat. Whipping up the best meals we can for our loving family and friends. In short, we're here to enjoy what the world has to offer us in the fascinating world of food.

We have different styles- Japheth is a creator, while I'm more precise. His family's big, while there are only two of us at home. I love Keller, Japheth loves Childs. Either way, though, we're both willing to take risks and challenge ourselves to make the best we can with what we have. So enjoy! And pray that through all of this, nothing catches on fire :)

S

Potato au Gratin... or is it?

When Mom isn't home, you better get ready for baked potatoes and beans for a week! Just the dreaded thought of no heart-warming food always left me anxious when she left. Finally on one of her Seattle excursions, I knew something had to be done! I opened the fridge and rummaged around our half empty drawers. Celery...no; pasta...again? Tomatoes...hmm. Slowly a little heap grows on the counter; potatoes, fresh tomatoes, red wine, flour, mozzarella, oh and leftover smoked ham and a nice salad should do also.

If I say so myself, that was one mighty good leftover dinner!

Go to the recipe book so you can savor what I did...

J

Now living on two sides of the world, California and Dominican Republic, our goal is to infuse cultural foods to share with the world. From American, Mexican, Italian or Japanese to Dominican or Ethiopian Cuisine. We want to share dishes that we found amazing and create the most culturistic menu there is. We'll try to get as many pictures as we can so you can be with us right in the kitchen.

So put on your apron and cook with us!

J&S

(Japheth&Sierra)