Early on my mom molded me into her personal baker. As a child I would enter and win 4-H bake-offs. Family and friends always request my desserts for get togethers. I've been married almost two decades and always cooked meals, but I always followed the recipe to a 'T' and never experimented. But a recent relocation from the Gulf Coast to the Pacific Northwest left my palate desiring the Southern foods I grew up on and I had to learn to cook "real" food. Southern cooking is a little of this and a little of that with no "real" recipe. Even though I document my recipes, I don't follow the recipe exactly now and I always experiment. I guess I'm not worried about ruining the meal now. My personal goal is to try two new recipes per month, but usually make a new one every week. I now love experimenting and creating new dishes. Pasta and sauces, Steak, Chili, Seafood Gumbo, and I'm learning to love making casseroles and one pot dishes. For years, my sister and I made winter holiday candy for our family and friends. I love making Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and dressing and Christmas dinner with ham. When my family and friends come back for seconds, I know the recipe is a keeper. My friends base includes Vietnamese, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and Laos. We all try to get together once a month and everyone brings a dish. We trade recipes and I love learning how to cook my friends' favorite dishes. I'm always cutting or burning myself in the kitchen, but I never let it discourage me. Most of the time I follow a recipe exactly the first time I make it and then decide how to make it mine the next time.