Born in Cajun Louisiana to parents from Arkansas. Food influences from those areas plus Mid-West, Memphis, Italy, Western USA where I've either lived or traveled. Also love to experiment in the kitchen! Creative & new things, but also favorites from the past. I like all categories: appetizers, main dishes,veggies, baked goods. My dear mother over-cooked many things probably due to her Southern tradition of cooking veggies a long time to soften them. Later, I learned that not ALL vegetables require long cook times & many taste better just slightly cooked. My mother-in-law is an excellent Southern cook & I learned some from her. Who knows? I've been cooking a long time and there've been many triumphs and failures since I like to experiment. Some requested items are Granny's Pound Cake -my mother-in-law's, Chinese Coleslaw, Fresh Apple Cake - we have a Granny Smith tree, Jambalaya, Calico Baked Beans, oh, & Leche Quemada -an updated microwave version of the Mexican candy. Too many to name! Experimentation does have it's rewards AND it's failures.