Hello :

I have been a member since November 2004, and I am a frequent 'visitor' to the chatroom. I like to cook and I was encouraged, by several chatroom members, to start a Cooking Blog.

Let me start by introducing myself a little. I had a mild stroke on June 26, 1998. I was an office furniture / office cubicle installer. Because of my stroke, I could no longer do this job - too physically demanding. I needed to find another job I could do, not knowing what I WANTED to do. I was 46 when I had my stroke.

I called the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, whose primary function is to place a worker, who has lost their job through no fault of their own, back into the workforce, after the appropriate training/evaluation. After my consultation, evaluation, job-placement testing, the results came back that I might enjoy something in the line of cooking / baking, etc. I saw an ad for a local community college that had just started a Culinary Arts Program, and I applied. OVR said that they would 'subsidize' my funding as long as I maintained a 'C' average.

On February 8, 1999 I started my new job training. It was a REAL challenge, since I have no feeling on my left side, plus my left side is also numb. The first two weeks, we did nothing but cut up vegetables, cut chickens into 8 pieces, cut meat and 'filet' fish. Only cut myself once. Thank you God for keeping me safe. The worse part was studying for tests. We reviewed on Thursday, with the test on Friday. I would study so hard, my wife would give the answer and I would tell her the question. Day of test, couldn't remember much of what I studied. I am happy to report that I graduated with a GPA of 3.8. I was 7th in the class of 23 students. Thank you God for helping me to graduate. I graduated on May 15, 2000.

I worked in a retirement facility for about 5 months, then one of my chef friends hired me to work at a resort and conference center. I made omelets-done-to-your order, or eggs-made-to order. However, due to a slip on the ice, on the way to work, I am now on social security disability. I 'totally destroyed' my right rotator cuff. So now I just 'volunteer' doing cooking functions for my church, or with the chef association that I belong to. I have also 'catered' a few events for people from my church.

I 'collect' recipes and I like to cook. If you would like a recipe, I can probably 'find' it for you, or I might 'post' some on here from time to time.

okay, enough 'rambling' Talk later and in the meantime ......................

Keep on Cookin'

ChefDenny