I have been an AR member for three years and finally introducing myself to the many cooks that have assisted, inspired and share my passion for cooking. Cooking for my husband, family and friends is one of the many ways I tell them that I love and care for them. My husband and I are fortunate early retirees three years ago at ages 50 and 51 years old. We now fill our days with activities and people that we enjoy, like our grandchildren, four boys and one girl, all under the age of seven! Our daughter and son gave up on chastising me for "spoiling" our grandchildren as their lamenting fell on deaf ears. Not so much my husband but I am definitely a big violator. I have adopted a first and second grade class at our local elementary school, reading to them once a week, incorporating song, dance, or crafts into the theme book of the week. Always there is a treat at the end of my visit, fresh inseason fruit or a goodie made in my own kitchen as store bought items may contain nuts. Complete dinners of all varieties. Definitely pasta dishes and comforting soups, not surprising being of Italian decent. My husband loves my chicken fried steak with the obligatory mashed potatoes and gravy. Yum! In the past ten years of marriage, our daughter has become quite the cook. I enjoy our holiday meal collaborations. Thanksgiving is quite traditional and we've got it down to a science. I, of course, make tons of Christmas cakes, cookies and candies, expected at our large family's Christmas dinner, although, I do switch up what I bring each year. Very happy to report that I have succeded in making a paella that my husband adores (I should submit the recipe to AR). Making crab raviolis from scratch. May I say that they are decadent at the risk of sounding like a braggart? Baking a feta and spinach stuffed salmon that my husband raves about. If he is pleased, then I am pleased. Like a few others I've read, mashed potatoes, aka "mashed potato soup", when I was twelve. Following a Betty Crocker recipe for a hamburger noodle casserole consisting of not much more than ground beef, noodles and catsup that we still laugh about! My first attempt at canning peach slices last month. The filled jars boiled so hard that I lost half their liquid.