I'm a graduate student who doesn't have a lot of time to cook each day so I prepare meals that I can eat for a few days at a time. I love making things from scratch and avoiding processed foods as best I can. This of course means that cooking usually takes some time. I don't mind though because it relaxes me. Since starting school I've gotten much better due to many hours spent in front of the TV (procrastinating) watching the Food Network. I have a big sweet tooth so I look for any opportunity to make dessert. I also love making something for someone and seeing their eyes light up when they eat it. My parents used to make roasts on the weekends which were always a big hit. Also my sisters and I used to jump when my dad fried bologna. I can't really say that I still do that :) I love making fudge for my friends and family for the holidays. This past Christmas I decided to experiment with a recipe that needed a candy thermometer (I had always eyeballed doneness before). On my first attempt the temperature never got to where it was supposed to be even though the fudge looked done. I kept waiting for the correct register until the fudge eventually became a solid block of waste which I had to throw out. Not wanting to give up I tried again only to have the same thing happen. Finally, on my third try, after wasting lots of food, money and energy, I decided to ditch the thermometer and use my gut. As a result the fudge came out perfect and I now have a new, better recipe. My first two attempts at a new fudge recipe :)