Ring of Fire

Despite the fact that I was born in Alaska and lived in several places including Guam, Idaho, Georgia, Washington and California, I consider myself a proud Texas girl. I feel as if I grew up there, having lived there from kindergarten through 5th grade and then again from 10th grade until I moved to Idaho in my late 20s. I'm not sure if it's my Texas roots, or my father's influence, but I absolutely love spicy food! Growing up, my father also loved hot foods and I may have just gotten used to this, loving his cooking. My mother did most of the cooking in our house but my father was a truly great cook the few times he did cook, mostly on holidays and sometimes weekends. Spicy foods have never bothered my stomach at all.

Being slightly lactose intolerant I know what it feels like to love to eat something (cheese/ice cream) and then suffer the stomach pain and toilet sitting that follow an indulgence. This is why I am ever so glad spicy foods do not give me this issue like they do so many other people.

Now, I'm not saying I'm one of the crazy ones who will eat the hottest chicken wings. I like spice and flavor but if it's so hot my eyes water and my nose runs and my mouth and throat and stomach burns like its on fire this is just torture. Why would one do this to oneself? I love to taste my food and enjoy it, not be in pain because of it.

For example, Josh one time, as a joke, put a ton of wasabi on sushi for me to try. I had no idea what wasabi was at the time and didn't expect the burning that followed the huge bite I swallowed. I've never liked wasabi since then.

My mother in law is Puerto Rican and has been teaching me to cook. She loves cooking with chillis and I'm a huge fan. Her cooking is delicious and despite being the palest gringo in Texas I hope one day to cook Hispanic food that well. It's one of my favorite types of food.