I'm married to a great guy (even if he's more than a little sports obsessed)! I love to cook, like trying new things, love to entertain friends and family and try out new stuff on them. I live in NJ now, but have lived in many different states, areas, countries even, so I feel as though a little of all places has managed to attach itself to me and the person I am. Love cooking Mexican food, homestyle things that comfort people, and like to try new items. I was born and raised (a little bit of time) in the south so I guess some of that southern tradition has definitely incorporated itself into my cooking - along w/ that "did ya eat yet?...we got plenty" hospitality. Later on, I was lucky to have many other influences incorporated into my personal life via family & friends, such as Italian, Spanish/South American, French, and even British. I guess my favorite family cooking traditions would have to be holiday meals, whether it be Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or even summer cookouts, I have always valued & greatly appreciated friends & family and what brings people together more than food?...In my opinion anyway. :-) I think I cook some pretty good darn mexican food, my sister won't even eat enchiladas unless I make them. And I made a pasta once my hubby raved about...and still does. Not so much a tragedy as a saving grace I guess, but once, for someone special's birthday dinner (with guests), I was making oven roasted potatoes and they stuck soooo terribly that they were falling apart, but I managed to scrape them up out of the pan, threw them in a pot, added some cream and butter and mashed the heck out of 'em....Wow, oven roasted mashed potatoes - Everyone raved about them!! Bad one - had a party to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with friends...followed an online recipe to the "t" and it was SO salty upon test tasting that I couldn't believe it (should have relied on my own cooking instincts). I doubled the recipe, minus the salt and it was still pretty salty, needless to say it wasn't a big hit at the party.