Cakery owner says chocolate is her favorite

Jennifer Cowgill

Cowgill owns Maribelle Cakery, 3308 E. Grant Road, 322-9294, www.cakesbymaribelle.com

Age: 35

Training/other restaurants: Cowgill, who received her degree in manufacturing from the University of Arizona, grew up in the food industry - her parents owned several McDonald's. "The joke is I have ketchup for blood." She bought Maribelle Cakery in November 2002.

Food philosophy: "Food is one of life's great pleasures and you should enjoy it."

Favorite food to cook: "I actually like to grill steaks. I grill a mean steak. I'm not much of a cook, actually. I'm a better baker than cook."

Favorite food to eat: "Chocolate - anything chocolate. I bought Maribelle because of the chocolate truffle cake."

Guilty pleasure: "Probably crème brûlée. Love it."

One piece of advice for home cooks: "Before you crumb-coat a cake, if you put it in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes, it makes it so much easier. I didn't learn that until I got into this business."

The worst thing I ever ate: "Well, I didn't eat it. When I was in Malaysia, they served us breaded chicken feet."

Three things that are always in my fridge: "Usually, fresh Parmesan cheese, portabello mushrooms - I love to do sautéed mushrooms on steaks - white wine."

Random question - Mounds or Almond Joy?: "Neither. I hate coconut. I cannot even get near it. The smell of it. It's one of those foods."

Chocolate-dipped strawberries

Makes 24

24 strawberries, with green caps and stems on

1 pound good-quality semisweet chocolate

Wash the strawberries and make sure they're thoroughly dry before dipping them.

Take the chocolate and cut into small chunks. Place cut-up chocolate in a glass bowl and melt for 1 minute in the microwave. Stir the chocolate; if necessary, reheat it for 30-second intervals until melted. Be careful, because chocolate burns easily. Stir until there are no lumps.

Hold each berry by the cap and stem, dip halfway into the chocolate, and swipe it against the bowl to remove the excess chocolate. Place on wax paper. Cool the dipped strawberries in the refrigerator for 15 minutes, and then decorate your favorite dessert or place them on a serving platter.

* Jennifer Cowgill