I'm a mother of 5 under age 8. I come from a family of 9 and began cooking when I was 11. I love music (I play organ and handbells) and making a house into a home and my family into a loving unit. If I could cook without washing dishes and garden all day instead of keeping the house in order, my life would be a dream! I love to bake things--bread, cookies, cakes. I don't have the time, usually to do fancy things. I have also learned how to create delicious meals without dairy products for my husband who is deathly allergic to milk. I like the compliments I get on my dairy-free version of green bean casserole. Having the children choose a favorite meal and fixing it for their birthday. Learning to estimate amounts in recipes because of an experienced eye! Just about every one of my successful (compliment inducing) dishes has been from a taste of home magazine or cookbook. A HUGE batch of spanish rice for filling green peppers--I thought I turned it off on the stove and went to get ready for church. We managed to not waste the smoke flavored concoction but it wasn't easy even for us adults!