I am a grandmother of 7 and work 7 days a week. I love to make up recipes, and also *tamper* with others, just to see what I can come up with. As usual, some will go over great and some I think.."well I won't be doing THAT again" I love spending time with my family as well as volunteer at the hospital twice a week. I love doing desserts and sweet treats, especially cheesecake variations. I was raised in an average household, my mom was from the south, so I definately experienced alot of those foods like grits, and greens of varying types. I can remember my mom making "wilted lettuce" and going out in the field for "dandelion greens" My dad was a hunter and we all fished, so I was also raised eating the things provided by those excursions as well. I worked for 5 yrs as a pantry girl at a Private Golf Resort. I LOVED it and learned alot about food appearance and garnishments. I also learned many fast yet delicious ways of preparing for large crowds and many recipes for dishes and home made dressings etc that I continue to use even now. When I left,to move to another part of the state, I felt truly special when the chef, who had a reputation of never rehiring anyone that had left his employ regardless of reason, tell me if I ever wanted to come back there would be a place for me. The worst experience I have ever had was when my children were very small and as a treat for a party they were having at school I thought I would make petit fours, which I had never done before. For some reason, they kept crumbling and would not hold up while dipping into icing. To this day I don't know if it was something I did as a fairly inexperienced cook, the recipe I was using, or a combination of the two. That experience brought me to tears, and the kids were upset to find me in the kitchen crying. I have never attempted them since, It must be a subconscious thing that I am afraid it will happen again. *smile*