An Interview
I love looking through other food and recipe blogs. I just love seeing what others are creating and expressing, and it's particularly awesome to read posts from people around the world. Food is one of the most basic and important things that unites us all, and God knows we need all the help we can get. So when I stumbled across a blog from Marcela in Argentina and saw the chance to continue this interview chain, I couldn't resist. You can read her interview questions here. She was kind enough to send these questions along to me:
1. Being a librarian I´m sure you´ve read tons and tons of books, ¿what would be your top ten list of favorite books and why?2. ¿What is your favorite type of cuisine?3. ¿Which recipe are you best known for (you know, that one recipe everyone keep asking you to make)?4. ¿Which is your favorite food-related memory?5. ¿Which were your dreams as a child? ¿Have you made any of them true?
So here we go....
1. Being a librarian I´m sure you´ve read tons and tons of books, ¿what would be your top ten list of favorite books and why?
Wow...I don't even know where to start on this one. I really try to read a little bit of all types of books--mysteries, spy and political thrillers, romances, nonfiction, and historical fiction. I particularly enjoy historical fiction, being somewhat interested in history, and I love listening to mysteries. I will occasionally dip into science fiction and fantasy, but very rarely read horror or scary books. For me, the books that stand out have touched both my heart and my mind, probably made me laugh, and the people in them stay with me and become almost real to me.
The top ten books or authors that have most affected me or that I could read over and over again since I began to read would have to include the following:
- a biography of Jane Addams I read in elementary school--the choices she made in her life continue to inspire me
- Laura Ingalls Wilder--my mom and sister and I read these together out loud, giving me memories I'll never forget
- The Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison--a very powerful, affecting book
- Agatha Christie--she never failed to astonish me at the end of her books
- Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069--this one has given me the most food for thought in the last 5 years or so as I seek to understand national trends and the people around me
- Cane River--I've only read this recently, but it has continued to stay with me. The haunting part is that it is heavily based upon the author's personal family history.
- David Sedaris--never fails to tickle my funny bone
- Barbara Kingsolver
- another one from childhood--Pippi Longstocking--I loved her hollow tree and free spirit
- Roddy Doyle's Dublin trilogy (The Commitments, THe Snapper, The Van)--funny and well written with an Irish lilt--you can just hear the rhythm of the characters' voices jumping off the page
2. ¿What is your favorite type of cuisine?
Oh, man, this is as hard as the first question!!!!! I would have to say it's a tie between Mexican and Italian. I love the fresh ingredients and variety you have with a few ingredients with Mexican food--using the same 5-6 ingredients, you can make enchiladas, flautas, chimichangas, burritos, tacos and more. Now that I think about it, Italian cuisine can have the same properties! I've recently been trying some Spanish recipes, all of which I've really liked.
3. ¿Which recipe are you best known for (you know, that one recipe everyone keep asking you to make)?
People usually remember the desserts I make. My husband loves my homemade pizzas--thick crust, thin crust, doesn't matter--he'll eat it all, and of course stay quite trim. One recipe in particular that I've made that people most remember is a 7 layer jello dish--it takes forever to make of course, but it tends to fascinate people and stick in their memories.
4. ¿Which is your favorite food-related memory?
Now this is an easy one-- meals at my grandmother's table. She makes the absolute best homemade pies and mashed potatoes and gravy. And after every meal, my grandad would tell her that it was a good meal (and then about 15 minutes later, he would ask what was going to be served at the next meal--but that's another story!).
5. ¿Which were your dreams as a child? ¿Have you made any of them true?
I always wanted to prove that I could make it on my own, and travel around a little bit. I believe I've done that, but I definitely still want to travel. Although I didn't quite picture this when I was young, one of the things I love the most about traveling is trying the local cuisine (will travel for food!).
Anyone else care to jump on board? Just let me know 
DIRECTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEW MEME
1. Leave a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. Make sure to send your email address.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
