I have been teaching since 1996, and LOVE my job! I taught third grade for most of my career, but recently moved to JH/HS to teach Social Studies! I am also the advisor for our JH/HS Student Council. With all of this going on, time in the kitchen has taken a backseat! However, I love to discover new, easy recipes to add to our weekly menus. And of course I always end up at Allrecipes for my search! I absolutely LOVE to bake. Cooking is more my husband's area, but baking -- that's MY area! Cookies, pies, cakes... you name it!!! Not too adventurous, but love the relaxing nature of baking for those I love! Holiday baking and cooking is my absolute favorite! Thanksgiving an Christmas always has me breaking out my mom's beloved recipes! While I love the memories, I somehow can't quite do it the way she could! :) A few years ago I decided I wanted to try my hand at pies! Meringue always intimidated me... but I did it! I cooked the custard for chocolate, lemon, and coconut pies -- first triumph!!! Second, I made the fluffiest, most delicious meringue!!! My husband raved about it for YEARS.... now it is the time factor that keeps me from it most times! 1000 characters isn't enough to share them all... but what makes me the maddest is when it is a "tried and true" recipe that I somehow demolish when I need it to work the easiest!