Sydney Mike

about me

Originally from rural northeastern Montana, I settled in Southern California in the mid-1960s. Sometime after retiring I moved to the high desert of San Bernardino County and enjoy it here very much.




I enjoy baking especially during the summertime's fresh fruit period and for the winter holidays. I've been told that when I bake, I'm raisin-crazy, and I suppose that's pretty accurate!

I have two children ~ a married daughter who lives in Tennessee, & who, in turn has 3 daughters & a grandson; my son is married & living here in Southern California about 11 miles away. My life partner & I have been together since 2001! We originally had 2 miniature schnauzers, Giacomo, who died in 2006, & Valentino, who died in mid-2008. In Sep 08 we were ready to adopt a rescued mini schnauzer, & then were heard about 2 that were about 3 years old, & had grown up together! Well, I wasn't about to break them up, so now we have them both ~ Charlie Brown & Lucy, & believe me, they fit those two profiles exactly!




Beginning in Sep 2001 I started working part-time as a model for life-drawing & photography classes at a local community college. In 2007 I branched out to a 2nd college about 45 miles away, but considering the price of gas, I'm not sure how long that one will last!


I adopted 25 chefs during the Spring PAC 2007 & made 100 recipes. In the same event, I was adopted by Diana #2.

I signed up for the Apron Swap in Jun 07, which was hosted by Bert's Kitchen Witch, & was partnered with Diana #2.


Participated in the Australian/New Zealand Recipe Swap #14, Mar 08, & made 94 recipes ~ Was teamed with blancpage, Chef on the coast, happynana & PainterCook in Group #14, The Curried Currajongs.




I'm an active participant in at least 15 recipe tag games, including ~ ~

Please Review My Recipe cooking game,


the Beverage Tag Game,


& its spinoff, This Round's On Me


the Newest Zaar Tag cooking game (unreviewed recipes),



Bargain Basement Game,


1-2-3 Hit Wonders cooking game,


Zaar Stars Recipe Tag (recipes with 5 or more reviews),


Every Day Is a Holiday cooking game,


Potluck Tag Game,


Went to the Market,


Zaar Chef Alphabet Soup Game,


Healthy Choices ABC,


I Recommend...



Make My Recipe,


Kid-friendly Recipe Tag,




NOTE: A whirlwind of alien orgin apparently buzzed through this portion of About Me & eliminated well over 3/4 of the information & banners that had been posted here, so

AS OF THIS TIME, THIS PARTICULAR AREA IS UNDER RECONSTRUCTION!

the US Regional Alphabet Tag,

& New Kids On the Block Tag Game


I have also participated during 2008 in the Australian/New Zealand Recipe Swaps #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22 & #23!

During 2008 I have participated in the Vegetarian/Vegan Recipe Swaps 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Swapped in the Spring 2008 Cookbook Swap hosted by . . . & my partner was . . .

I tagged heavily in the Spring 2008 Pick-A-Chef . . .

Took the World Tour for the first time & was Captain of a great group, THE FIGHTING FOURCHETTES!

Was involved with the Spring/Summer? event, My-3-Chefs, hosted by kiwidutch.

Sometime in the summer (?) I tagged in the Asian Forum/ Magic Mushroom cooking event!

I participated in the Fall 2008 Cookbook Swap hosted by . . . & my partner was . . .

Tagged in the Think Pink (Breast Cancer) event!

In Sep 08 I participated in the Shoebox Mystery Swap #2 hosted by UnknownChef86, at which time my partner was TasteTester.

Oct-Nov 08 found me involved with the Holiday Ornament Swap 2008, hosted by evelyn/athens, & in that swap I had 2 partners, evelyn/athens & Chef nanaof5!


Tagged in the Election Eats Tag Game in Nov 08.

Tagged in the Let's Get Souped Up Tag Game!

Created my first Zaar recipe in the Dining on a Dollar Cooking Contest!


In Nov 08 I again participated in the My-3-Chefs event hosted by kiwidutch.

In Nov 08 I participated in the 2008 Holiday Stocking Swap hosted by . . . My partner was QueenBee49444.



In Nov-Dec 08 I was partnered with . . . in the Holday Cookie Swap, which was hosted by . . .

During that same time I had as a partner . . . in the Mystery Christmas Card Exchange.

Favorite Foods:

My most 'famous' dish is probably my Outrageous Carrot Cake, although the Strawberry Disaster Cake is a close second. However, I really enjoy baking fruit pies, and find great enjoyment in combining several fruits together. One I'm particularly fond of is my apple cranberry pie, and when I say cranberry, I mean CRANBERRY!

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