Profiles

Sadassa_Ulna

by:
April 25, 2011
18 Comments

 

Over the past eight months, Sadassa_Ulna has been winning us over one recipe and sassy comment at a time. An architectural designer and avid gardner from Wynnewood, PA, she has a common thread running through most of her recipes: like so many of us, she's all about food memories -- some come from childhood, as in Mrs. Ito's Gyoza, and some are new traditions created with her husband and two children, like the Birthday Pumpkin Muffins pictured above.

She's as driven to find recipes her children will devour, like (success story!) Potato (and Cauliflower) Cakes, as she is by her own cravings: her Chocolate-Covered Cherry Valentines are the work of a confessed chocoholic (not that there's anything wrong with that). Sadassa_Ulna's warm sense of humor and love of ingredients are everywhere on food52, from her prize-winning foodpickle answers to her enthusiastic comments to her recipe headnotes (see Apples on Greens with Cumin Vinaigrette: it's salad gone wild).

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For more Sadassa_Ulna, see her profile page and fan her here.

Read her profile Q&A below:

  • What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
    I'm not very adventurous, snails?

  • What do you cook when home alone?
    Scrambled eggs with ketchup and yakisoba sauce

  • Your most treasured kitchen possession:
    my Kitchenaid stand mixer (gift from husband)

  • Your ideal meal:
    Fourth of July barbecue with friends and family

  • Something you'd like a chance to eat or cook:
    Japanese "Gift Fruit"

  • The number of bottles of wine you own:
    Rarely more than one or two, not a collector [yet].

  • The ideal number of guests for a dinner party is:
    4 + husband + kids + me

  • Kitchen pet peeve:
    No clean dish towels

  • Your favorite cookbook:
    Joy of Cooking

 

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

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Sadassa_Ulna

Written by: Sadassa_Ulna

Growing up I was the world's pickiest eater, that is, until my children were born. Karma. Neither of my parents were much into cooking; it was the height of eating fat-free or anything with oat bran added. I taught myself some basics, mostly baking, following the guidelines of a well-worn copy of Joy of Cooking. I was a ballet dancer and a teacher suggested I lose weight. As I began reading about diet and nutrition I became interested in natural foods, which led to a job at a macrobiotic natural foods market in Center City Philadelphia; this was way before Whole Foods came to the area. I learned a lot about food in general. I ate strictly vegan for a while, although I don't now, but I still like it when a recipe can taste great without butter or bacon! In short, my approach to cooking is idiosyncratic, and I don't know very much about cooking meat or proper technique. I love to bake and I am still working on expanding my palate and my repertoire. The hardest part is getting the whole family to try new things! So aside from my food status, I am an architect who likes to garden and play music. I'm married with two kids, and I hope to get a dog someday.

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18 Comments

Sadassa_Ulna
Sadassa_Ulna April 27, 2011
GIFT FRUIT:
My understanding was that in Japan, some growers go to great lengths to grow incredibly luscious versions of muscat grapes, peaches, melons cherries, etc. that are extra large and fantastically perfect. These fruits are elaborately wrapped and given as gifts, often from young executives to their bosses. The profile question " Something you'd like a chance to eat or cook" seemed like a chance to mention something almost ridiculously sublime and decadent! But then I read this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/28/style/28iht-rluxfruit.html and realized that it is so crazy wasteful in terms of what the growers go through that I might just change my profile answer . . . we'll see, FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

and thank you for all the wonderful comments that magically keep coming in! I heart food52 . . .
 
Panfusine
Panfusine April 27, 2011
thanks for that informative link..$100 for a fruit... I'm not sure I'd have the heart to eat it up if I got one!
 
drbabs
drbabs April 26, 2011
So nice to see you in the spotlight!
 
Kayb
Kayb April 26, 2011
Very cool spotlight; enjoy your time! Love your answers and recipes!
 
pauljoseph
pauljoseph April 26, 2011
I am very happy to see you here!
 
boulangere
boulangere April 26, 2011
Oh how wonderful to see you here! I always enjoy your posts, and I'd like to add my name to the list of those who are curious about Japanese Gift Fruit. Warm congratulations!
 
healthierkitchen
healthierkitchen April 26, 2011
Great to see you here!
 
betteirene
betteirene April 25, 2011
I didn't realize that you were such a newcomer to food52 because you feel like a long-time friend. Good to see you here.
 
Sadassa_Ulna
Sadassa_Ulna April 25, 2011
I just got home from work and found this! I am just bowled over. Thrilled! Thank you so much for this spotlight and thanks to my new fans! I feel like my archives are too skimpy to be spotlighted, but I will make an effort to change that. Pinch me!
 
TiggyBee
TiggyBee April 26, 2011
I just now skimmed through your recipes and they're gorgeous! Congrats, Sadassa!!
 
hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour April 25, 2011
Great spotlight! You're a riot, Sadassa_Ulna.
 
fiveandspice
fiveandspice April 25, 2011
Great spotlight Sasassa_Ulna! Fun to learn a bit more about you!
 
aargersi
aargersi April 25, 2011
Yay - great spotlight - LOVE the salad headnote!
 
mrslarkin
mrslarkin April 25, 2011
Hello Sadassa_Ulna! Nice to see you in the spotlight.
 
gingerroot
gingerroot April 25, 2011
So great to see you in the spotlight, Sadassa_Ulna - congrats!
 
Lady A.
Lady A. April 25, 2011
Japanese "gift fruit"? I'm intrigued ...
 
ChefJune
ChefJune April 25, 2011
me, too! What is that?
 
Panfusine
Panfusine April 25, 2011
Congratulations on the spotlight...