Here I am writing a blog. I never thought in a million years that I would be doing this. I am a Family and Consumer Science Teacher (aka Home Economics teacher). Teens love technology and what better way to get them more involved in food than food blogs. I started this with no blogging knowledge. I did read Blogging for Dummies and just jumped right in. So this is definitely a work in progress.
I knew that I wanted to be a teacher from the beginning of time! I have loved and still love teaching. I look forward to my job because it is so rewarding in many ways. I am not in it for the pay, but I have truly been very happy in my career choice.
I graduated from Georgia College and State University with a Masters in Home Economics Education. I later added Middle School Education from Georgia State University. I taught eighth grade science for eight years. My love though is Family and Consumer Science. For many years I was a one women show and had to teach child development, clothing and textiles, interior design, foods, and teaching as a profession. Now that our school is larger I only get to teach Nutrition and Wellness.
My love for cooking started at a very young age. My mother turned me loose in the kitchen probably around eight years old. Since flour, sugar and eggs were inexpensive I did a lot of baking. I have never had any culinary training although I would love to do that sort of thing. I am just a self taught cook.
I believe that exercise and a good diet go hand in hand. I spend a lot of time at the gym. I also play tennis, but not very well.
I am happily married. My husband and I have one son. Sadly when he graduated from college with a Masters in Public Administration he could not find a job here. He has been in California now for about seven months teaching tennis for Cliff Drysdale. We miss him!
Other interests are reading, sewing, entertaining friends, biking, and walking. Since blogging some of those interests have fallen by the wayside for lack of time.
If there is something else that you have a burning desire to know feel free to contact me. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. theteachercooks@gmail.com
27 Comments
September 23, 2009 at 10:06 am
Wow! I love the blog. I know that your students must be as excited about this as they are the wonderful skills that you are sharing with them in the classroom. I can only imagine how much time and energy you are devoting to this each week. Great job, Ms. ! Your students are extremely lucky to have you for a teacher.
October 5, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Awesome job! As others have said, keep up the great work!! Nice to have such a dedicated and wonderful teacher!!
October 11, 2009 at 9:20 pm
I love reading about your recipes and some of the history behind them. I know you are a great teacher and wonderful example. Thanks for all you do!!!!!!
October 11, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Thanks Melinda
October 15, 2009 at 7:13 am
Hey WL – have always loved your cooking. Everyone at the school always wanted to know when cinnamon bun day was so they could make up an excuse to go visit your classroom. Do they still do that? Love to read the blog, but you know I don’t cook!
October 21, 2009 at 9:09 am
Hello! I am a former student who now hosts a cooking show on tv23, the local government access channel. It was suggested to me that I ask you if you and one of your classes would be willing to be on the show to cook for us. We travel around the County and look for the best recipes. We did a segment at __ High School in the Spring and it was awesome! You can ask the county food service director about it.
Just let me know if you are interested. It is easy and a lot of fun. I could come over to the school to tell you more about it.
October 21, 2009 at 10:19 am
That would be awesome!!!
November 3, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Please post recipe for Cinn rolls!!!
December 14, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Still having trouble with the cinn rolls….please send instructions home….I want her to make them tomorrow…..thank you!
November 3, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Hey Mrs. ,
My mom gave me your website and I think it’s wonderful! I still cook your parmasean chicken you taught me how to make in 1996 when I was a junior in highschool! Hope all is well, happy cooking and baking!
November 16, 2009 at 11:40 am
how did they cook on a board
November 24, 2009 at 1:49 am
Love your blog! What a great idea!
December 3, 2009 at 7:51 am
I remember LOVING the vegetable pizza, and somehow I’ve misplaced my recipes from high school. haha. I am so glad you made this site it’s great and now I will actually have a reference handy, where ever I go!
December 7, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Hello. I love your blog. You have great idea. My pleasure to follow you.
Jenny
December 8, 2009 at 9:35 am
I loved the video with T J, he was and still is one of my favorite people. Great student at Alexander and great man now. He stayed in the hometown and does so much for the community. I don’t live in DC anymore and can’t see DCTV, so videos online help me keep up with the happenings. Both of you keep up the good work!
December 10, 2009 at 12:43 am
Great blog.. I always reflect on your class as being a favorite of mine in highschool. I recall dropping AP Biology and picking up your ‘Foods’ Class. It made all the difference… and was a ton more useful than the AP Bio class. As it turns out, I am a good cook today and still use many of your recipes. My all-time favorite is a sheet cake/mud cake thing that you made at ALTA one week. I still have the recipe and make it from time to time. … Anyway, how great to see that you are sharing your skills with so many others… taking advantage of technology and all. Good for you! Impressive.
December 27, 2009 at 3:47 am
Greetings from a fellow teacher!!!! I teach social studies to JH/HS students, and I also love cooking. One of my students and I created our first wedding cake earlier this month!
I am excited to follow your culinary adventures and use them to inspire my own.
January 26, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Hi!
I finally figured out your blog and I think your blog and experiences on here seem divine… No wonder…I can’t cook. I should have stayed in your class longer. I won’t starve and I haven’t missed any meals, but I won’t impress anyone with my cooking. I like keeping up with you on FB and I will follow you on twitter. Never can turn down a good GA recipe. All of yours seem delicious. Take care… a teacher cooks, how clever!
February 3, 2010 at 8:20 am
Was the La Bete Noire what you served us at book club? It was fabulous and I think everyone agreed to that! How easy is that recipe, even a non cook like me can do that!
I continue to love your website and all the recipes and instructions you give to all of us. Most of them are easy, but even the more complicated ones are easier with your instruction. Too bad you weren’t my high school Home Ec teacher.
February 13, 2010 at 11:09 am
Wow! I am a newer FCS teacher who is inspired by your work! It is a lot of work to organize a class that involves foods labs. You have certainly succeeded. Your students are very lucky to have a teacher as passionate and innovative as you. I am pleased to have come across your work and plan to incorporate some of your ideas into my own classroom. I plan to return to your blog to help me become a better teacher myself. Please keep sharing your expertise and knowledge as you are teaching much more than just your students with this site! Thank you for your ideas!
April 7, 2010 at 9:43 pm
I love the recipes I’ve seen on your site. I have a question and don’t know if you’re able to answer it, but maybe some of your readers are. I made a pound cake today (same recipe I’ve used for years without a problem). When I checked it the first time, it had risen to the top of the pan, but looked very soupy. When I checked it again 15 minutes later, it had totally fallen in (like 2 or 3 inches) in the middle. The only thing that I did different was that I used butter to grease my bundt pan before I floured it, since I was almost out of Crisco. Any ideas?
Thanks.
April 13, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Making pound cake can sometimes be frustrating! I bought a new range and a new mixer and it has taken me a while to make my tried and true pound cake recipe the same. About the butter I did some reading and one source said not to use butter. Was your cake edible? Sometimes the ones that fall taste great! Thanks for stopping by and if I get more information I will send it your way.
April 14, 2010 at 6:59 am
Thanks so much for stopping by. Sometimes pound cakes can be tricky. After buying a new range and a new mixer it has taken me quite a few tries to get the same results with a tried and true pound cake recipe that I have been using for years. I did read that you should not grease your pan with butter. They gave no reason why or what would happen. Maybe that is the answer to your question. I will look further and let you know.
April 16, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Thanks for getting back to me. I think I discovered my problem. I made another cake a few days later and, while putting the batter in the pan, some got on my finger and I licked it off. Of course, I know I’m not supposed to do that because of the raw eggs, but old habits are hard to break. Anyway, I noticed that it tasted salty and my recipe doesn’t have any salt in it, so I started checking around. I found that “someone” had put self-rising flour in my canister. I’m still not sure how that happened, because I don’t usually buy self-rising flour. Since I thought I was using plain flour, I had added the baking powder, as called for in the recipe. I think that may have been the source of my problem.
Your tuna recipe looks great–can’t wait to try it.
April 10, 2010 at 8:38 am
Hey WL, I have a friend who loves beef stroganoff and I would love to make this for her on her birthday. First I have to show my ignorance – what is kitchen bouquet? You may have talked about this before in another recipe but I missed it. Selective reading as opposed to selective hearing? Thanks, and see you soon. V
May 3, 2010 at 8:08 am
Your students did great!! Congrats to them all for their creativity in serving the pudding. I think they even put Southern Living Magazine to shame. Once again, makes me wish I was still working down the hall so I could sample. Any chance we will get this at book club???
May 3, 2010 at 8:30 am
It is easy to make. Would everyone enjoy Banana Pudding? I sure can whip some up!