I've really had a knack for cooking since I had to learn at a young age to feed younger siblings. First thing I learned to cook was goulash and potato soup! The older I get the more I really enjoy cooking so I'm so very happy I found this site for sharing ideas & suggestions! Love to make lasagna (or any pasta meal really), my own recipe for turkey pitas, pan-fried chicken parmesian, and chopped salads. I also like to bake cupcakes and cookies. I don't use anything but olive oil in everything I make or bake. I will occassionally use butter where required. I grow my own herbs, try to always buy fresh fruit & veggies from local growers, and enjoy making things from scratch...just like my mom. I made Christmas dinner last year...a "mile-high lasagna pie" using a modified recipe that I found in Bon Appetite. It was PERFECT. You bake it in a springform pan and once done, you open the pan onto a glass cake display. You see all the beautiful colors and layers...then cut into it like a piece of cake & serve. My most magnificent triumph! To this day, my entire family still talks about that meal. Have had several meals that came out "ok" mainly due to over-cooking but no tragedies to speak of...yet!