The name. It's unusual--she's heard every way to mispronounce it that there probably is, but it is really very simple. Jaa is pronounced like "Jay", it's just spelled a bit differently.
Jaa has been interested in cooking and food for as long as she can remember, and collects antique & regional cookbooks whenever she can find them. She learned cooking basics the old-fashioned way: from Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma. Through the years she has been fortunate to learn at the side of professional chefs, but still loves to make and improve old family recipes. Her favorite time of year is the holidays when the cooks in her extended family gather on Thanksgiving weekend for the Annual Cookie & Candy Making Extravaganza--enough treats get made to go through at least a 50 lb bag of flour.
Jaa believes that a recipe is just a starting place; a better recipe is just a spice cabinet away; and a cooking failure may be inedible but next time it will be delicious.
In her spare time, Jaa manages social media and public relations at CHEFS Catalog. She also values our reader's and customer's input. You will see her poking around answering emails, comments, and questions that are posted on posts or come into our CHEFS Mix inbox.
I have had enough oatmeal for one winter season! I love oatmeal, but I have been uninspired when it comes to my morning meal. This morning's oatmeal sent me over the edge and on the hunt for delicious and nutritious cold morning breakfast ideas.
Everyone's talking about their upcoming football party. I want to serve somthing different than the usual fried pub food or hot wings. My choice this year is tapas!
Categories: Food & Recipes
Valentine's Day is on the horizon, and we are sharing two easy to make dinner menus. Choose from stuffed pork chops or roasted salmon--no special ingedients needed.
Heat things up without chilies or cool down overly spicy dishes
Categories: Tips & Advice
Cooking with a pressure cooker isn’t hard, but short cooking times mean recipes need a little extra attention. Try these helpful hints and tips to make fantastic recipes with the pressure cooker.
Categories: Food & Recipes, Product Place
It seems everyone has a horror story about seeing a pressure cooker used. Usually it has to do with seeing food shoot through the pressure nozzle on the top of the lid and coating the ceiling. Modern pressure cookers have advanced with technology, and are a perfect solution to quick homemade dinners. Come learn about the pressure cooker and delicious recipes for tonight’s dinner.
Categories: Food & Recipes, Product Place
Making breads is one of those simple pleasures: warm, filling, delicious, from just a few simple ingredients. CHEFS Mix explores tips for making better bread by hand and bread machine.
Categories: Food & Recipes, Tips & Advice
Oatmeal can be a little boring, but with a few great additions it can be a tasty morning treat, dessert, or side dish to your favorite meal.
Categories: Food & Recipes
It's been cold in Colorado. It is the perfect weather for a warming bowl of soup. Discover a few tricks for making a more flavorful soup and share some of you tips.
Categories: Food & Recipes, Tips & Advice
Food Holidays and In Season foods for the month of January. Printable PDF included! Plus today celebrates Creme Puffs.
Categories: Food & Recipes, In The Spotlight
We wish you a very Happy New Year! Share your resolutions for 2013 and feedback on making CHEFS Mix better.
Categories: In The Spotlight
From all of us at CHEFS & the CHEFS Mix Editors
We hope your Holiday Season is off to a wonderful start. Today is Christmas Eve, and our test kitchen is closed. But we gathered the team together and here are some of the Holiday Traditions that we look forward to in our homes.
Categories: In The Spotlight
This time of year, after a busy day, shopping for gifts, and weekday activitites, getting dinner on the table can be a challenge. Try this Porcini Mushroom & Prosciutto Lasagna for a weeknight meal. About an hour is all you need to get this dinner ready to eat!
Favorite stocking stuffers for the cooks and bakers on your gift list!
Homemade chocolate truffles make great gifts and stockstuffers for the chocolate lover on your gift list. Add that person's favorite flavors for a personal touch.
Winter is finally arriving here in Colorado. Soon we will all be craving the warmth and flavors of Spring and Summer. One of my favorite winter treats is lemon curd. Creamy and tart it is delicious in a simple pie or just eaten with a spoon, it’s a taste of sunshine. If you are making gifts from your kitchen this Holiday Season, Lemon Curd is a great stocking stuffer or addition to a baking gift basket.
Categories: Food & Recipes
Still looking for a gift for the cooks and bakers in your life? Come see what is currently trending and popular on the CHEFScatalog.com site. Looking for the perfect gift is always a challenge. Today on CHEFS Mix we are taking a look at the currently trending gifts and what makes them unique and special.
Categories: Product Place, Tips & Advice
Let your slow cooker make your warm drinks this holiday season. It's an easy way to make drinks for a crowd or a party. Hot spiced apple cider, hot chocolate, traditional wassail, & more!
Categories: Food & Recipes
Ciabatta can be time consuming, but the crisp exterior and chewy interior make this bread hard to resist. Once you make it at home you won't want it from anywhere else but your own oven. The slow cooker hearty beef stew has a twist to its preparation to keep your veggies from getting mushy.
Categories: Food & Recipes