2023-24

How it All Began

Some of my first memories of cooking and being in the kitchen was when I was around the age of 5 and Santa brought me an Easy Bake Oven! Oh how happy I was! I must have baked every day for a solid month, proudly sharing my creations with anyone who would brave the test.

 Through my preschool and elementary years, there was my mother’s weekend ritual of cake baking for my brother and I. Oh how we both looked forward to that!  Coming from a single parent home, my dedicated mother did her very best, pinching her pennies, to raise us. Money was limited, so desserts were a very special treat. My mother would allow me to stand on a chair beside her as she guided me with her gentle hands in learning how to crack the eggs into the bowl, followed by operating the electric mixer to blend the batter.  Afterwards, my brother and I would look forward to joyfully consuming the remaining batter from the bowl and beaters.  We made the dishwashing easier for her! Haha!(similar to the rubber spatula these days)

The strongest influence in my life that has led me into the direction of being so passionate towards food and the love of baking and cooking has come mostly from the environment in which food was always at the center. As a young girl, I have such great memories of taking the long hilly country road drive to the farm, to visit my grandparents in Louisiana. I eagerly anticipated watching my Mammaw (my grandmother) do “her thing” in the kitchen. I loved her wooden rolling pins. Man, her homemade biscuits were the bomb! Fresh eggs from her farm raised chickens, and bacon or sausage from the animals they raised, along with the thick slices of large juicy deep red tomatoes my grandfather had grown in his impressive garden,  just WOW! I learned quickly,  FRESH is BEST!  I LOVED THIS country life!

Later, when Mom’s 7 brothers and sisters would arrive, for our Camp family reunion, along with my 20 or so cousins, the celebration was in full swing. The joyful collaboration in the kitchen of all of my aunts gathered together talking and laughing as they prepared food for everyone on the country farm really stuck with me.  The food and desserts were an outright spread, all over the country home! Of course, my eyes were bigger than my stomach! My plate would be piled high with a bit of everything! Especially the desserts! Preparing food together with others became my passion, not just for the love of food, but for all that came with it as well The enchanting kitchen-the room where great conversations, laughter, sweet smells and aromas filled the house, but yes, in the end,  it was also the FLAVORS of each dish that were so captivating. I was spellbound!  To this very day, I love entertaining and cooking for others in my home. I grow my own fresh vegetables in my backyard garden and wear my cowgirl hat and boots almost everyday! In addition to loving my family, this down hearted country girl also enjoys camping, fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, skiing, snorkeling, traveling, and just hanging out at home with friends around the firepit. And I'm very passionate about teaching YOU,  our Cresthill students the joy of cooking and sewing!

-Mrs. Tomczak