I'm a 26-year-old wife and stay-at-home mom. After my 3-year-old daughter was born, I realized that my family couldn't (and shouldn't) live on Hamburger Helper forever. So I subscribed to a cooking magazine and slowly started teaching myself how to cook. Oven-fried chicken, anything Asian-inspired (stir-fries and such), anything quick and easy, as I have a toddler that isn't very patient My mom always makes a HUGE batch of cookies around Christmastime, and this year I plan to carry on that tradition. I decided, despite my lack of expertise, that I would make a pumpkin-swirled cheesecake for Thanksgiving dinner. It turned out wonderfully, with only a small crack on the edge (that I covered up with spiced whipped cream so nobody would notice). It got RAVE reviews and now I'm getting requests to make it for Christmas dinner! My first attempt at making a pot roast was a DISASTER. Somehow I managed to burn it (?). I haven't tried making one since, even though my husband keeps telling me "It wasn't THAT bad." Oh, yes. It was.