I'm the mother of 4. I work full time outside the home. Youngest daughter 13 enjoys cooking with me. Eldest son 20 now in his own apartment calls for cooking tips. Comfort foods... always get raves... I also like to try new things and make my own personal adjustment to a recipe. Some recipes are made only on certain occassions...this is what keeps them so special. Christmas cookies made just days before the holiday. We don't make them in advance to freeze...they need to be fresh from the oven. When children were small making cookies and then delivering them to neighbors on Christmas Eve would keep them occupied and keep their minds off Santa's upcoming arrival. We spend New Year's Eve at home with a table full of dips, hors d'oeuvres, fondue, etc ... Teaching eldest daughter 16 to make chili over the phone while she was on a skiing vacation in Colorado. I've done a lot of phone instructions ... it's very interesting. I love to share my cooking techniques. No tragedies...usually come up with some sort of remedy for any mistakes.