Single mother of 2 grown children. Grandmother of 3, (my favorite) We had 9 in our family, being the oldest girl, I got broke in very early to the kitchen. It wasn't until my kids were grown and I was alone that I really got into baking/cooking. I love a really good thick soup with fresh homemade hot bread. Decorating cakes is also a fun challenge. Especially the ones with tons of roses and lots of piping. Must be Christmas. My mom had a certain few foods that were always on the table, it never varied. I keep that tradition, but sometimes I cheat a little and put on a few new things - especially deserts. Puff Pastry - took me 3 months. I've never spent that much time on any one thing before. Puff Pastry!! For the first 2 months, LOL. My very 1st Thanksgiving dinner was truly a tradedy. I left the giblets inside the turkey. I cooked the potatoes so long they turned to mush. My jello salad didn't set up. I completely forgot the sweet potatoes. AND my aunt & uncle from Califorina, that we hadn't seen in years, showed up as a surprize. Thank goodness for my mom. She brought a salad, and fixed my potatoed with some instant ones. Not great, but saved them, and we had potatoes and gravy for dinner. Now - every year someone always asks -"hey, are the goodies still in the turkey?"