My Biography

I was born Doreen Marie Reiniger on May 9, 1951 at Denzil, Saskatchewan, the eldest of six children - so I know all about responsibility and hard work! My parents were farmers until my Dad died suddenly at age 54. I was 16 years old. The following year when I went to the University of Saskatchewan, Mom moved into town with the other children and rented out the farm.

My first passion was reading. I read every Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and Bobbsey Twins book ever published. Sneaking off to the outhouse with a book was a favorite trick - sometimes it worked for an hour or so till I was discovered. I wish I'd kept a list of all the books I've read since those days!

I discovered early that I enjoyed cooking and baking, nearly as much as I enjoyed reading. Collecting family and personal favorites became an unconscious hobby. I had recipes scribbled on restaurant napkins, the inside of envelopes, all manner of scraps of paper. Soon the piles became unmanageable when looking for a recipe for myself or someone else. The progression to cookbook seemed natural. Initially published in 1989, Cooking Country Style has been revised and is in its fifth printing.