About, Updated

Comment: It is January, 2019 and once again I need to update my “about” page which I will do soon. I continue to downsize (that sometimes happens when you get older) to a 2 bedroom, detached condo with an attached 2 car garage. Lots of space still, but not the acre yard I had with lots of flowers, herbs and veggies. Certainly not the 75 acres we had in Manchester. I’m living in a new city but still in Michigan! My blog just passed the seven (7) year mark in Nov. 2018.

Almost five years ago I started this blog with the sole purpose of transferring all the recipes I have made over a span of 40+ years to a permanent site where I could edit, add pictures and make these recipes my own. That evolved into something more – new recipes and blog parties. I now have over 900 recipes and many posts have more than two; such as a regular recipe and a Weight Watcher’s version; or 9 varieties of an appetizer.

As a Master Gardener I do enjoy gardening and you will find a number of posts sharing my experiences with veggies, flowers and herbs. There are new and old pictures, the kids when they were young and older now too. It’s my family blog 🙂

I have been cooking a long time, no specialty, as I like to make just about anything, or at least try to.   I enjoy cooking/baking and I have lots of fun doing it, especially sharing with family and friends.

I have a BA in Education and a Masters in Library Science.  I am an  Advanced Organic Master Gardener and recently became a Smart Gardener too. Next year I will become an alumni and not continue to be active. Also, I became a  Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers some years ago but have unfortunately  added too many pounds to that milestone I once reached. I do have the tools and training for cooking a wide variety of recipes through additional education such as classes or conferences.

We use to live in the country on 75 acres and I had the luxury of a 40-x 120′ garden, which did not include the pumpkin and corn patch. Great times back then as Gene was a Jack-of-all-Trades who built my raised gardens, hauled compost and soil and jumped at the opportunity to make something for me. He was very skilled in building things; forget about pulling weeds!

Due to Gene’s health we moved back to the city and now have just under an acre. I still have some raised beds for veggies and many flower/herb beds around my home.

Yes, for a number  of years this was on my license plate of my apple red Tahoe; JuJu G. A special nephew, Denny,  called me Aunt JuJu when he was very young and could not say Judi.  It stuck and many of the kids to this day call me that.  This is why my blog is called cookingwithauntjuju.com.

In loving memory of this special nephew… <3

Denny - blog

88 thoughts on “About, Updated”

  2. Thank you for liking my blueberry muffins. I really appreciate. I love cooking too, and sharing the little that I know with others so I hope to learn from you too. I also believe in eating anything I want, in moderation. Best wishes!

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    • Thanks Liz – even though I have been cooking for a long time there is always room to learn something new. I continue to take classes and experiment with new recipes, buy new cookbooks and of course I love the internet. With other cooks like yourself and sites such as Pinterest there is an abundance of information with new techniques or twists. Cooking and sharing are good things 🙂

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  4. Thanks for coming by… I have one shortbread recipe “Raspberry Shortbread Hearts” you might enjoy. Yours sound fantastic! Gene was my big cookie fan, especially shortbread.

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  5. Thanks for checking out my blog and my Chicken Parmesan with Zucchini Noodles. I hope you get a chance to try a recipe or two out for yourself sometime as well. I look forward to following your posts in the future!

    -Christine

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  6. So happy to see you posting many of my favorite dishes from when I was young. And I love all the new dishes you are sharing–especially the Weight Watchers recipes. You were always my favorite chef, Judi, and you still are! <3

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  7. Thanks so much Sandy – I really appreciate your thoughtful comments. My old recipes bring back so many good memories and it is good to know that you remember them too. I truly enjoy cooking and trying new recipes or updating old ones. Weight Watcher’s has so many delicious recipes, even Gene liked many of them, as long as I did not tell him. 🙂

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  11. Hi Judi! I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award. I have been enjoying your delicious blog and talking with you these past few weeks–you are such a wealth of information! I wanted to pass on the sunshine and let bloggers know what a great resource you and your blog are. If you choose to accept (no pressure at all!), you can check out the details here: http://ngansequitur.com/2014/03/24/a-bright-monday. Cheers! Ngan

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    • Thanks so much for this nomination but for now I am slowing down with blogging (actually cooking) and plan to catch up on some other things. I will still stay in touch and check out what everyone is up to and post a recipe now and then. I have turned down the other nominations I have received as well. Thanks again – I do appreciate it 🙂

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      • No worries at all. 🙂 Me, myself is also on a bit of slowing down on cooking, as so in blogging.

    • Wow another nomination from you Nancy and I thank you so much 🙂 Maybe one of these days I will get into the awards. Congrats on all of your awards – you are so deserving and have some of the best recipes!

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  18. I loved reading about you in this section and see how much you remind me of myself with the Weight Watcher’s versions, gardening, and old and new recipes! You sound like my kind of cook and baker! I am nearing my 100th post and excited about that! Thanks also for your comments on my blog. Looking forward to spending more time browsing through your great pages!

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  25. Hi Fellow Blogger, I was nominated today for a “Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award?” I was asked to nominate seven bloggers myself, create a post or page, and include a link back to the blog of the person who nominated me. I have done as requested, and I am now nominating you. If you are inclined to take part you can follow this link to the page I created with my responses and all the information you will need. If you don’t want to take part…no worries. God bless. Kathy
    http://threepsandq.wordpress.com/blog-awards/

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  28. Thanks Skd for the sweet nomination – I am thrilled you would pick me. So far I have not participated in the awards aspect as you can tell from my blog. I do value every nomination and want to thank you for thinking of me 🙂

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    • Hello Juju! Thanks so much for nominating me and I do appreciate it. So far I have not been involved with this aspect of blogging. Julia Child also was nicknamed Juju by her dad when she was young – the nickname means a lot to me. I will have to go over to your site 🙂

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      • Hello Aunt Juju. I would just like to remind you that if you choose to accept the award I nominated you for please follow the rules of the award and 1) thank your nominator, 2) write 7 things about yourself and 3) nominate 15 other blogs you follow or enjoy. Just thought I’d let you know as it has been some time since you were nominated and have yet to do these things. Thanx. x

  30. Hi Judi, I have nominated you for an award -http://aromasandflavours.com/2015/06/18/the-sisterhood-of-the-world-bloggers-award/

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    • Thanks so much for the nomination but as you can see from above I have not been an active participant in any awards. I do appreciate your nice comments and maybe one day I will chose to get involved in that part of blogging 🙂

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  35. Judy,
    I love your blog for so many reasons- from your gardening tips to your recipes and their weight watcher versions but most of all I love how you make me feel part of the family by sharing your life with us.
    That is why I have nominated you for the Dragon’s loyalty award. Please find all the details here-https://indfused.wordpress.com/2015/07/29/3-awards-in-july/ Congratulations!

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    • Thank you so much Sandhya for your kind comments and especially for nominating me for this award. I do appreciate it so much but since I started my blog I have not participated in the awards. I do graciously accept it though – thanks 🙂

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  37. A really interesting About page, Judi. You’re definitely a lady of many talents, and I’m looking forward to reading a few tips on various things on your interesting blog. 🙂

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      • I like the way you’ve written it! It says a lot about you. (I’ve just had another read, and realise I’d forgotten to click ‘like’!) I prefer a longer About page to those with just a sentence or two. 🙂

      • Me too… It won’t be too long before I see 70, so I have a lot of things stacked inside my head. Most of it is probably not worth talking about, mind you, but I find the odd bit now and then.Lol Lovely to meet a kindred spirit! 🙂

  38. Arrived via Lynz’s recommendation. Glad I did. Just had a nice visit and look forward to following your wonderful website. Still amazed at the photos of the turkeys!

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  39. Pingback: One Skillet Lasagna for Fiesta Friday #100 | Patty Nguyen

  40. Hi Judi…really enjoyed reading your “about” page to learn a little about you. I also have some raised beds in my city backyard in Virginia and love the fact that the produce is all organic. It has taken a lot of work but very satisfying. Thanks for visiting my blog and you always kind comments. It is delightful to meet people like you through this medium. I hope you have a wonderful 2016. Take care —Zeba

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  41. Thanks very much Zeba – I keep thinking I should update it but for now I’ll leave it as is. I like raised beds and often think of having more as 3 is just not enough. It’s so much fun to pick your own veggies. I do have my herbs in addition scattered in various beds. Happy New Year and the best to you in 2016!

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  42. Good morning Judi/Juju from South India. I just read your ‘About’ page, enjoying it very very much and yes, I agree with you (for what it’s worth :)) don’t change this page!!! Later on today, when all my own Blogwork is done, I will enjoy reading through your pages, and no doubt, learning a thing or two. Have a good week-end and oh yes, btw. I follow you now 🙂 Carina.

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    • Thanks Teagan – a favorite nephew who is no longer with us called me that in such a sweet young voice I can still remember. My “about page” is almost like a resume – I guess I should tone it down… 🙂

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      • Not at all — I enjoyed it very much. It’s very human, not a resume. Since I don’t think of myself as a cook at all, I was impressed. 🙂 It’s nice to let people know your qualifications. You are right to display them. More hugs.

  44. I just found your blog, but can’t find an email subscribe button. Could you please put one in? Thanks.

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  45. I’m an A2 girl all the way, even though I moved away. I just take the spirit with me.
    I have fallen in love with the egg bites from Starbucks. I found recipes online to make them and now have discovered ways to really kick them up a notch (think hot sauce and hot Italian sausage!) because I love them.
    Have you any recipes to share to make them? They are technically called sous vide eggs, but either way they are addictive!
    Keep cooking and enjoy the “small life” – I beat you to downsizing!

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  46. absolutely love ur page! Always a story/memory in every recipe! You have done such a wonderful job with the website Aunt Juju! Making some of the Masters French onion soup this weekend! Loved the little back story!

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