I used to love cooking until I realized that with fancy dinners came LOTS of prep and dishes to wash afterwards! My family's tastes are simpler and wouldn't eat the fancy dinners I used to cook anyway. I choose to make my home and my family my profession. I have a schedule, chore list, etc. to keep me on task. I have been on a quest to simplify! I knew I was overcommitted when my children's basic needs became an interruption and a bother to me. I am so glad I found the courage to say "No!" to many good things. I wouldn't trade my relationship now with my family FOR ANYTHING! "From scratch" anything! Lots of protein - meaty stews, roasts, creamy soups. I am really making an effort to cut wayyy back on the amount of sugar, preservatives, damaged fats (hydrogenated oils, etc.), and man-made carbs that we consume. Oyster stew on Christmas Eve! We also have an Old Mennonite heritage and make Vereniki and White Ham gravy - yum! I get raves on my cheesecakes! I can't post the recipes, however, because they are a collection of recipes from other sources. I once made a really killer Shepard's Pie from scratch out of my head but didn't write it down. I can't for the life of me remake it again! I once tried making fudge - the fudge and the pan went into the garbage. When my husband and I were first married I didn't have any hamburger and thought I'd try tuna instead in a hamburger helper - I'm lucky I'm still married!