We got married in 2006 and up until that point I hadn't done ANY major cooking (grilled cheese doesn't count, right?). My husband was an expert on bachelor food (chicken patties, Progresso Soup, frozen burrito's, etc.) but neither of us had thought about who was going to be feeding us for the rest of our lives. So, the first day back from the honeymoon I rolled up my sleeves and drove head first into the wonderful world of food! It's been a wonderful adventure that we're both enjoying more and more everyday! I like casserole's and stews. The end of the week comes and I have left over's aplenty and I love to see what we can make out of them. I am, in a word, frugal. However, I love to make delicious gourmet specialties on a shoe string budget. Just because it's cheep doesn't mean it can't taste great! I come from a meat eating family. Lamb/beef/venison with a starch and a gravy all cooked in the electric skillet with some veggies thrown in. Served over noodles and potatoes. Yum. It's simple, but it tastes like home! I can still appreciate my mom's technique of getting only two pans dirty while cooking. A skill that I've been refining myself!! I cooked Christmas dinner this year for the first time! We had a roasted turkey seasoned with sage, carmelized brussel sprouts with walnuts, maple glazed carrots, cranberry-pineapple minis, mashed potatoes, and fancy stuffing. It was great! Then I topped it off with a red raspberry and apple/cranberry/blueberry pies. It was quite a success if I do say so myself! Cooking for 8 in a kitchen barely big enough to turn around in is a triumph all its own! Zuccini pancakes. 'nuff said.