I am the daughter of a home economics teacher, who became a home economics teacher and loved that for 14 years before becoming a high school counselor. Lost 30 pounds with Weight Watchers and Curves 5 years ago by cooking and eating healthier and exercising. I was diagnosed with bulbar onset ALS 2 years ago and can no longer eat food orally, but love to cook for other people and hear their rave reviews. I listen to the conversations, wait on the table and just enjoy making people love good food as much as I once did! I really enjoy using my old (1974) crockpot to make yummy main courses and then delightful vegetable sides that make the plate look beautiful and make the meal tasty beyond belief. The soups, stews, and main courses that a crockpot can deliver is fantastic. Plus, usually the prep time is minimal and a bonus is that the house smells great all day. My Mom was a tremendous cook who left people wanting more of anything she baked, roasted, fried, or any assortment of other techniques. She was amazing and taught me to cook any and everything starting when I was 8 years old. Anything she made, well okay, almost anything, especially her holiday preparations, were awe inspiring. Those are the cooking traditions I carry with me, I just have tried to health them up a bit. Plus playing music while I cook, dancing around the kitchen and just plain having a great time. It's an art and we are the artists with a smile on our faces, eager to put that same smile of the faces of others! Too many to relate! Sadly, also too many to relate!