Hi there! I am so pleased you popped by today.
I started SoyBasil because I wanted to share my love of cooking with anyone that is interested in learning how to make simple and tasty meals your entire family will enjoy. Over the years, I have come to appreciate the subtle complexity of flavors and especially the healthful qualities in Asian cuisine. Preparing these interesting types of dishes at home is not as difficult as you may think.
Most meals today in the U.S. are no longer prepared or eaten at home, and let’s be honest, we are seeing the results in our increasing waistlines and medical bills. I believe that home cooked meals are essential for the wellbeing of my family. If you have lost your love for cooking or have found that you’ve gotten lazy when it comes to food, I want to encourage you to get back into the kitchen and enjoy yourself while you are there. I hope that you will come to truly appreciate your efforts and the effect it will have on your entire family.
I am not a trained chef, simply a well practiced home cook with a keen interest in making Asian food more approachable. My recipes lean toward Japanese cooking because my husband, Ken, is of Japanese/American descent and we both love Asian food. With Ken’s influence and all the fond memories from the years he lived in Japan he has passed that love and appreciation on to our children. Appreciation of Japanese food and culture runs through us all and influences are life daily.
After college, I moved to Japan to live and work. While living in Japan I was introduced to so many new and, at the time strange foods, it forced me to expand my culinary repertoire. After becoming a mother, my cooking style was inspired by my life in Japan integrated with my own boring Midwest bred upbringing. My recipes include Asian ingredients and methods but my food is not fancy or extravagant. Great meals do not need to be complicated. You can make really great food for your family everyday.
You are in the right place whether you are looking to expand your cooking repertoire to include approachable Asian food or, like me, it simply makes you happy to be sharing really good food with your family and friends. It is how I show my love and admiration for the people I care about and I look forward to sharing this joy with you.
Most of the recipes have been developed by me (recipes from Around the Table excluded) and all recipes on this site have been tested and photographed by me.
