I'm a stay at home mom with two kids...but I'm pretty bohemian, not your average betty crocker!! I love to knit and also have a spinning wheel. My perfect day is one when I take my family to the beach...and while the kids frolic in the waves, the hubby and I relax and drink good Sonoma County wine. I am always drawn to anything exotic...with a lot of spices and flavor. I like anything with Thai flavors...such as lemongrass or coconut milk, and also love South American flavors that combine lime and cilantro. Slow cooking is great because it is always so tender and I like to have dinner already planned ahead of time. All summer we grill...because it's just easy!! My grandma was a good cook...it seemed she could make anything taste good, no matter how simple. I learned from her that even the most elemental meals can taste really good if paid attention to. I cook plenty of complicated meals....but had never done a big thanksgiving dinner until a few years ago. Even though most of the dishes are fairly simple...it's a task getting everything timed right, and with a little help I put on a great feast!! When I was a newlywed...14 years ago...whoa!....I made a horrible casserole that someone had given me a recipe for. I recall it had broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cream of chicken soup and pillsbury refrigerated dough in it. My husband couldn't even gag it down!!