I am the oldest of 6, so I have been cooking for a crowd my whole life. Now that it's just me and hubby, I'm working on focusing on quality over quantity. The 9-5 routine can take a toll on our weeknight meals, so I am always trying to find quick but delicious dishes. I love creating dishes that look and taste like they are from a restaurant. I have a craving for any thing pasta, so I do find myself looking for new takes on old favorites. For birthdays, my mom always made the meal of your choice. It was a great tradition that brought the family together for food and fun. I have a perfectionist attitude towards my menu. Every week I plan out what meals we are going to have so I can make my grocery list. This practice has also carried over to dinner parties we host, and the time spend on the menu really pays off. I also love pairing the appropriate wine or cocktail with a meal. After cooking pork tenderloin for a guest, I spilt the gallon of tea all over the meat and twice-baked potatoes. The gracious guest, seeing my tears well up, attempted to eat it anyways! It was mortifying!