8/25/08

About Me


The Bountiful Kitchen first edition. I need to upload pics of the new kitchen. Soon...
(it's never really this tidy)









I'm fortunate enough to be a stay at home mom for the past 23 years. I love being a mother :) I was born in Okinawa, Japan. My mom is Japanese and my dad from the U.S. of A. I have been married to Grant (crazed bow hunter, baseball fanatic, most enthusiastic person you have ever met, and best friend) for 31 years and have four kids- two girls and two boys, one son-in-law and one beautiful grand baby! When I started this blog we lived in a town called Bountiful.
I learned to love cooking while I was going to Dixie College in the early 80's. I took a bread and pie making class with my dear friend Angie. A sweet lady with white hair (Mrs. Barton) taught us how to make bread, rolls, cinnamon rolls, donuts and my favorite- PIE. I was hooked! I loved that you could start out with flour, sugar, fruit, and an hour or so later end up with something that was beautiful, smelled wonderful and tasted so good!

Much more successful than my sewing experiments.

frequently asked questions...

  • Do you take your own photos? If so what camera do you use? Yes, I take all of my own photos, with the exception of a couple early recipes, when I was getting my blog up and running. I used a point and shoot Canon in the early days of my blogging, then a Canon T1i, and since 2012 a Canon EOS 60D. I know just enough about shooting photos to get by. I do know the best shots of food are taken in natural light.
  • Do you cook like this every night? No, I usually cook about 2-3 nights a week, the rest of the time we eat leftovers or grilled cheese, or quesadillas, just like you :)
  • How come you don't weigh 300 pounds? I was blessed with a great metabolism. I have started to gain weight the last few years...age :( Being 5'8 helps. I eat small meals throughout the day, and I'm somewhat choosy about what I eat, if it doesn't taste good to me, I have no problem passing.
  • What is your favorite kitchen appliance? My Kitchen Aid stand mixer.
  • What do you recommend if I'm giving a kitchen related gift item? See this post.
  • How much time does it take you to do a post? Well, it depends on the post, how much "journaling" I do along with the recipe. On average 1-2 hours total.
  • Do you have a recipe for _______? The best way to see if I have a recipe on my blog is key in a recipe name or main ingredient into the "search this blog" bar . Top right of side bar, or look through the index.
  • How can I contact you? Send an email to Fostersi at msn dot com I will do my best to respond quickly or leave a note in the comment section of a post.
  • Advice for new or young cooks, just starting out? Don't ever say "I HATE cooking!" If you say you hate cooking, it will taste like you hate cooking. Grant loves to say "Words have creative powers". He's right.
  • Any advice for me if I'm just starting my own blog? Write about what you love! I think that's the number one rule. Also very important: If you want to keep the blog name you have chosen, purchase the domain name, even if you are simply using the "blogspot" address to publish your posts. Why? Let's say you start a blog with the name "Mary's Marvelous Kitchen" and use a blogspot address. Great. After a year or so, you decide you really love blogging. People look up your blog by using your name. All of your recipes are cataloged through this name. Then you decided to buy the domain name Mary's Marvelous Kitchen dot com. But someone else owns that name. Sure they are glad to sell it to you. For a price. Now, something that should cost you $10 a year will cost you hundreds. It happens, all of the time. Read more about my nightmare with this here.
  • Why do you blog? I love sharing recipes and my love of cooking with family and friends. It's convenient for me as well, to catalog recipes I love in one place. I hope that my love of food and cooking will take the fear out of cooking and encourage others to stop eating out of packages and get cooking!




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45 comments:

  1. All I can say is OMG!! I found your blog in a random search for "blue hubbard squash" and now can't wait to start making ALL of these incredible recipes! Woo HOOOOOO!!!
    -Wendy in midcoast Maine

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  2. glad to find your blog through The Hive! Can't wait to see more wonderful recipes!

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  3. You have always been such a wonderful cook and I'm so excited to try your recipes and see how you and your family are doing! Tell everyone Hello. JaNae Lilly –AKA JaNae Mitton :)

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  4. I am anxious to try many of your receipes !!!!!~ I LOVE food that looks, sounds like the recipes shared on the blog. Everything looks sooooo flavorful. I love to cook and I do my best to take plain receipes and make better. Can't wait to try your blueberry scones, guac and others!!!

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  5. Sayuri...Love the new look to the blog...You are amazing!!!

    Thanks for sharing all the fantastic recipes....

    Your dear friend from high school....Mary Mac!

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  6. Your kitchen is really beautiful dear!! gloria

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  7. nice kitchen
    good decor

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  8. This is the place to get inspired about cooking! Hehe, now I know where to go when I become brave enough to try "baking."

    Love you Si,

    Brandon

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  9. Your daughter Brooke told me about your blog. It looks great! Now I'm going to try to get my brother to follow you because he absolutely loves cooking and recipes!
    Sam Krohn
    (One of Brooke's new roommates)

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  10. I am also a Bountiful girl and I am so glad I found your blog...thank you for all the amazing recipes!

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  11. I was told about your blog from a friend of mine...... Becky Peterson is my friend and her daughter in law is Katherine and apparently her mom is friends with you. Does that make any sense? LOL

    This is a fabulous foodie blog! I just became a follower. Stop by and visit my blog to enter in for a napkin ring giveaway. So fun to meet new people out here in Blog land.
    Karin

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  12. My darling dauhter Karin from thestylesisters told me about you. You are so cute and your kitchen is wonderful! Loving cooking must happen when you live in northern Utah. I grew up in Ogden, attended BHS (many, many, years ago)and I too love to cook. I have been in the chocolate business for over 25 years and hope you will check out my blog. Your recipes are to die for!!!

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  13. Hi ~ Your blog is great! Found it while trying to find a recipe for Paula Deen's Smoky Apple Cinnamon Sauce (which doesn't exist - due to she sells it at Cracker Barrel). Anyway, so glad I came across you blog -- beautiful pictures and super recipes!
    Linda from SW Florida

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  14. Hi! I too am from Bountiful. I came across your blog by accident, but ended up spending the WHOLE day looking at your wonderful pictures and recipies! I am so excited! Thanks for sharing! I was going to make the "Best in the World Oatmeal Cookies" but decided to wait to double check on this. Is there any salt in the recipe? Just wondering?

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  15. Anon,
    I just double checked...no salt in this recipe. Have been making these for YEARS, good without salt. I think this is common when soda, powder and cornstarch are all ingredients.
    Good luck and let us know on the recipe comments how they turn out!

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  16. Hello : ) I'm from Canada and came across your fantastic site. I made your lasagna and Miss Daisy cake on the weekend and got raves from my family and friends. Can't wait to try more gems and pass on your site to my friends.

    Cheers!

    Karen

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  17. Have enjoyed looking through your blog! I have been married for 3 years and my husband and I are just starting a family and cooking is one my passions! I hope that we can be Blog friends! Have a good rest of the weekend and thanks for all of the wonderful recipes!

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  18. I found your blog randomly looking for some recipes and i am so excited to start making some of your yummy treats for my young family here in Sydney Australia.

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  19. WOW! I adore cooking blogs, and found your site tonight while looking for a white chocolate bread pudding recipe!! My printer is humming, can't wait to see all your site has to offer!! Love it!

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  20. Hey Si,
    I want to find a good fish taco recipe. My husband has them at Rubio's in Salt lake and I would love to make them. But I can't seem to find a good recipe. I thought mabe you might have one.
    Thanks
    Amy Brown (amy hedberg)

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  21. Amy,
    You have to go to Lone Star Taqueria in SLC, (Ft. Union Blvd.) Here is a link to a recipe I posted a while back for their fish tacos:
    http://www.abountifulkitchen.com/2008/11/grilled-fish-tacos-with-mangopineapple.html or look up Fish Tacos on the index.
    Let us know how they turn out!

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  22. Thrilled to find this blog! We just moved to Kaysville from Texas, only renting until we find our new home. Thanks for sharing all these great recipes!

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  23. I was speaking about how I love recipe books and finding recipes online and Elder Foster said you should look at my mother's blog. He is a wonderful talented young man and and is going to be a successful missionary. I plan to enjoy your blog. Thanks for sharing good recipes and most of all your son with us. Hermana Rex

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  24. Thanks for the note Sister Rex!

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  25. I found your blog in a random search for a Mrs. Backer's Cake recipe. I grew up in SLC and was in the mood for that today so I did a search and instead found a lot of Cutler's recipes on your blog, another favorite! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Emilee, Glad you found a hometown blog! If you love Cutlers, I just posted their Sugar Cookie recipe today...happy baking!
      Si

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  26. I found your blog while looking for a good copy cat recipe for Sweet Pork. I used your recipes for the pork, rice and cilantro dressing for my son's 16th surprise birthday party. We had a gaggle of teenagers and all of them ate, a lot, and loved the food!! Thank you. Also, my oldest son is on a mission for our church and served the last three or more months in Okinawa, Japan. He is now in Hiroshima and is missing Nago!! Just thought it was a strange coincidence! Love your blog.

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    1. Hi Tracy- thanks for the note- Glad the recipes worked for you and your crew!
      I think our sons may be the same age, Stephen left at the same time as your son in Japan, except he is serving in Mexico. Small world :) Have a great day!
      Si

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  27. I found your blog because somebody posted a recipe from it on Pinterest. Thank you so much for writing! You have a great writing style, take wonderful pictures, and the recipes look marvelous - the kinds of things I love to eat. I can't wait to start trying them out!

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    1. Thans so much Virginia. Hope you enjoy cooking from this blog! It's always nice to hear how people found A Bountiful Kitchen :) Happy cooking!

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  28. Oh my gosh!
    I am half Japanese too! With my mom from Japan and Dad from the states. Way cool :)

    kianabates.blogspot.com

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  29. Just found your blog through Pinterest...I was looking for a chicken pizza recipe and yours sounds delicious. My family and I just moved back to the states after living in Okinawa for 3 years. We loved it...wished we could have stayed longer. Thanks for the great recipes! Cindy

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    1. Hi Cindy, I love Okinawa! Would love to go back again someday soon. Thanks for reading ABK. Have a great day!

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  30. I love this. I think I've found another kindred blogging spirit. Interesting to find out you too are a hapahaole, as my family calls me and my brother. My father is Chinese and my mother is German/Irish. At any rate, as I stated on another post here, I'm glad I found your blog! ;)

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    1. Ahhh Food Pusher, glad to meet you! My friend Larilyn used to call me a Haole too!

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  31. Love your blog! Which brownie recipe is pictured on your banner (pecan on top)?

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    1. The brownie on the banner is the Southern Lady Brownie found under the dessert section of the index. Thanks for reading!

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  32. Just found your blog thru the alt FB group and have to tell you it is beautiful! Looking forward to meeting you at Eden's meet-up, if not sooner! Thanks for the inspiration today.

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  33. Si, where do I get those huge bowls for camp and family reunions? I looked on Amazon but I can't tell the size. How many ounces or gallons are they? Love your stuff. The buttermilk chicken was the first my husband liked in 45 years of marriage.

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    1. Hi Earlene, I believe I purchased my large bowls at Bintz Restaurant Supply in Salt Lake City. Standard Restaurant Supply would also be a good source. Both are open to the public. I am not sure how many gallons they hold, maybe three-four?
      I'm glad your husband liked the buttermilk friend chicken. We love that recipe too! In fact, every time I make it people love it. Thanks for reading! love you!

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  34. Hello Si,

    This is Claudette Jones. I met you at the Rising Star Outreach Golf Brunch. You did a great job. I would like to get the recipe for the salad with the tortilini in it and also the recipe that had cheese and basil . It was the salad that was sitting right next to the Tortellini dish. Thank you . Claudette Jones

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  35. Hello Si,

    I was at the Rising Star Golf Brunch. I am wondering if I can get the recipes for the Tortellini dish and the Salad that was sitting right next to it (I think it had basil and some sort of cheese in it) from you. It was delicious. Thank you. Claudette Jones

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  36. Hi Claudette,
    Thanks for coming to support Rising Star! I have not yet posted the Tortellini pasta dish, but will soon. The other two salads were the Basil and Couscous Salad and the Chicken, Apple and Smoked Gouda Salad both on A Bountiful Kitchen. You can find them on the index under salads, or use the search bar on the right hand column of the home page. Glad you enjoyed!

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  37. I'm waiting for your recipe book (please tell me it is coming soon). I want it in my kitchen so I can always cook good stuff!!!!

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