I,M A HAPPILY MARRIED MOTHER OF 2 ADULT CHILDREN, AND AFTER 28 YEARS OF NOT WORKING WE BOUGHT A SMALL RESTAURANT. HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE. CONSIDER MYSELF A PROFESSIONAL EVEN THOUGH I'VE NEVER BEEN PROFESSIONALY TAUGHT. IF YOU PUT SOMETHING IN FRONT OF ME I CAN MAKE A MEAL OUT OF IT.(AND IT WILL BE EDIBLE!!!) COOKING IS WHAT I LOVE TO DO MOST. MY FAVORITE THINGS TO PREPARE ARE PROBABLY CHEESE CAKES. CREATING NEW FLAVORS AND TEXTURES IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE. ALSO BEEF AND SHRIMP DISHES HOLD A PLACE IN MY HEART. MY FAVORITE 2 COOKING DAYS OF THE YEAR ARE AT CHRISTMAS TIME. MY BEST FRIEND WANTED TO LEARN TO MAKE BAKLAVA SO I INVITED HER OVER AND TAUGHT HER HOW ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO AND NOW IT IS A TRADITION, WE GATHER AT MY HOME (USUALLY) ON THE SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HAVE A FEAST WITH OUR HUSBANDS AND THEN PROCEED TO TEAR UP THE KITCHEN, IT HAS NOW EXPANDED TO OTHER YUMMY CREATIONS AS WELL. MY OTHER FAVORITE TIME IS DECEMBER 23RD WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I MAKE CHEESECAKES. WE WILL CREATE ANYWHERES FROM 4 TO 10, ACCORDING TO WHO IS GOING TO RECEIVE THEM THAT YEAR, IT IS FUN TO GET HIM IN THE KITCHEN, HE'S LIKE A LITTLE KID WHEN HE BAKES. JUST HAVING PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THEIR FOOD WAS WONDERFUL, OR THAT THEY'VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THAT BEFORE. JUST TO SEE THE SMILE ON THEIR FACE AFTER THEY'VE EATEN THEIR DESSERT. WHILE PAINTING OUR HOUSE ONE DAY, OUR FRIENDS CAME TO HELP, AND FOR THEIR PAYMENT THEY REQUIRED DINNER, LEG OF LAMB, SOMETHING THEY'VE NEVER HAD AND HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY, AND OF COURSE I TOLD THEM I MAKE THE BEST. I PREPARED A SMALL LEG AND A SMALL PORK TENDERLOIN. PUT THEM IN THE OVEN AT A PRETTY HIGH HEAT AND NEVER REMEMBERED TO CUT THE HEAT BACK WHEN I PUT THEM IN. WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY WE GOT WORKING AND THE MEAT GOT FORGOT ABOUT AND THE LAMB WAS DESTROYED. IT WAS THE SADEST PIECE OF MEAT YOU'VE EVER SEEN. THEY STILL TEASE ME ABOUT THE "LAMB DINNER"