When it comes to breakfast, my preference is generally to keep things enjoyable without eating so much that I feel like crawling back into bed. Depending upon my appetite and schedule, I might prepare a beautiful fruit plate, blend one of my protein shakes, or make a refreshing glass of freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I've been interested in juicing for years, and I enjoy having different options available when I want something quick before getting down to work.

But when I'm especially HUNGRY, things can get a little more interesting! My homemade omelette is one of my signature breakfast dishes, filled with flavorful ingredients and prepared until it's fluffy, satisfying, and ready to enjoy. I also make an omelette quesadilla by combining two breakfast favorites into one delicious creation, and when I'm craving something sweet, there's always room for pecan Belgian waffles. WHO SAYS BREAKFAST HAS TO BE BORING WHEN YOU HAVE A KITCHEN FULL OF POSSIBILITIES?

For lunch, I often turn to my homemade salad, which friends have been complimenting for years. Depending upon my mood, I'll prepare it with salmon, chicken, or other ingredients that transform a simple bowl of vegetables into a terrific meal. The idea is to combine fresh produce, satisfying flavors, and enough variety that eating a salad becomes something I genuinely LOOK FORWARD TO, rather than something I force myself to eat because somebody told me it's good for me.

My lunchtime collection also includes hearty homemade soups, warm sandwiches, quiche, calzones, and even sushi rolls for those days when I feel like preparing something a little more adventurous. You can make these meals as simple or elaborate as your time and appetite permit, and that's what I appreciate about cooking at home. YOU'RE THE CHEF, YOU CONTROL THE INGREDIENTS, AND YOU GET TO DECIDE WHAT SOUNDS DELICIOUS TODAY! Once you become comfortable experimenting with different combinations, the possibilities multiply quickly.

OH, NOW WE'RE TALKING, BABY! Dinner is where I can really have fun preparing some of my all-time favorite dishes, beginning with my homemade pizza. I love being able to choose my own toppings, combine my favorite ingredients, and bake a pizza that tastes exactly the way I want it. Making pizza at home has become such a familiar part of my routine that I genuinely look forward to doing it again and again. The same enthusiasm applies to my Pad Thai noodles, a dish I first made for a friend's birthday and enjoyed so much that it earned a permanent place in my collection.

And that's just the beginning. My dinner recipes include fried rice prepared with shrimp or salmon, grilled salmon with vegetables and beans, sautéed sweet potatoes, juicy cheeseburgers, tortellini with scallops in red sauce, yakisoba stir-fry noodles, Japanese udon soup, and unagi served over rice. For Mexican-inspired meals, I enjoy making BBQ chicken soft tacos, sautéed sweet potato tacos, and a particularly delicious creation I call my BARTURRITO! This last one became such a favorite that I once made it for five consecutive nights before deciding I probably ought to give some of my other dishes a chance. HA-HA! What can I say? When I find something I love, I LOVE IT!

When friends get together, I enjoy preparing food and drinks that turn an ordinary gathering into something memorable. My Barty Party Smoothie is a perfect example. I've served enormous quantities of these smoothies at parties, including occasions when I prepared seventeen pitchers at one gathering and thirty at another. Imagine bringing enough ingredients to keep a crowd returning for another glass while everybody else wonders what magical concoction you've created. That's the kind of experience that makes entertaining so much fun!

My online collection also features creative frozen beverages, Piña Bart-Ladas, Very Berry Bart-A-Ritas, and a decadent cookies-and-cream ice cream shake. For readers who prefer desserts, I've included other sweet treats online, such as chocolate chip pie, razzleberry fruit pie with ice cream, and more delicious ways to satisfy an occasional craving. And although my world-famous chocolate chip cookies have become a separate passion and business adventure, the cookbook also includes cookie-baking information and personal tips. My closely guarded signature recipe, however, is another story!

One reason I love maintaining an online cookbook is the ability to share additional dishes beyond those originally included in the printed edition. Readers can discover recipes for BBQ chicken quesadillas, chicken and steamed vegetable bowls, sautéed potatoes, baked chicken drumsticks, baby back ribs, veggie lasagna, ramen noodles, and more. The website also lets me provide additional explanations, photographs, and links to individual recipe pages, making it easier to select a dish and start cooking whenever inspiration strikes.

Whether you're preparing breakfast for yourself, lunch for your family, dinner for somebody special, or smoothies for a houseful of guests, my goal is to give you practical ideas that are enjoyable to prepare and satisfying to eat. You don't need to cook every dish exactly the way I do, either. If you prefer different vegetables, seasonings, toppings, or combinations, experiment until you discover something you love. THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST PLEASURES OF HOME COOKING: MAKING A DISH YOUR OWN!