I'm 39 years old. I've been married since 2004 and moved from Tuscaloosa to Selma, Alabama. When I was younger and lived with my parents, I NEVER cooked and really had no idea how to begin. When I moved out on my own, I figured there was no better time to learn - besides there was no one there to see my mistakes! My husband and I have no children together altough he has an adult daughter from his first marriage. I especially love to cook for family get-togethers and work-related social events.
My favorite things to cook
I love to make cookies and party snacks. I'm always interested in trying out a new recipe.
My favorite family cooking traditions
I don't know if you'd call it tradition but I do what I call "mama cooking". I think my mom is a great cook and so I try to cook things the way she always did; not using a cookbook and just knowing when something "feels" right or looks right. I think that cooking for someone shows how much you love them and am always striving to make something memorable.
My cooking triumphs
Maybe not a real "triumph" but it made me feel happy regardless. I overheard my uncle, who was a cheesecake fanatic, tell others that my cheesecake was the best he had ever had. It made me feel so good to know that it wasn't a false compliment because he didn't know I was anywhere around to hear him. He has since passed away but I will never forget that.
My cooking tragedies
Last year, while my in-laws were visiting, I decided I would make bisquits for breakfast. Now, I've made biscuits a million times with no problems. Well, I wasn't thinking and I stirred my batter after it had already risen and the bisquits wouldn't rise during the baking process. They tasted fine but were like pancakes. Fast forward a year. My in-laws were visiting again. I "announced" to them that I had to redeem myself with my bisquits. I was yacking away with my sister-in-law, not paying attention, and I accidentally used all-purpose flour instead of self-rising. Needless to say, the bisquits were like rocks!! I was so embarrassed and perplexed. We all got a good laugh at my "redemption" though. Later I realized what I had done. Oh well, there's always next year!