I have been cooking most of my life, but I started working harder at it when I got married. My mother is a fantastic southern cook and I am trying to follow in her footsteps:) Long complicated recipes! I love taking home cooking meals and making them fit my diet by substituting brown rice or whole wheat noodles. I love to bake but don't do it often because my hubby and I will eat it all ourselves! Southern foods like collard greens, butter beans, biscuts and gravy, jambalaya and my dads family claim to fame at Christmas: German Butter Cookies. My 2 thanksgivings now that I have made a full meal with all the trimmings for me and my hubby completely from scratch. Oh gosh. Mom's birthday when I was 15. Didn't know what "confectioners" sugar was, so I guessed. I guessed wrong and ended up with sand paper textured frosting.