I AM A 35 YEAR OLD MOTHER OF ONE, 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, KIA AND ONE 7 YEAR OLD CHIHUAHUA, SHORTY, BOTH OF WHICH I LOVE DEARLY. I AM A PART TIME DAYCARE PROVIDER THAT ENJOYS MAKING SNACKS AND MEALS FOR THE 5 CHILDREN OF WHICH I CARE FOR MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. IN MY SPARETIME I LOVE TO BAKE, LOOK FOR NEW & DIFFERENT RECIPES ONLINE, LISTEN TO MUSIC, SHOP{OF COURSE} AND VISIT FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO EXCHANGE RECIPES OR FOR TESTING NEW ONES!! I AM VERY AVID IN COOKING AND MY ENTIRE FAMILY ALWAYS GIVES ME MUCH PROPS ON "ALMOST" EVERYTHING I MAKE, OF COURSE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING OUT NEW & DIFFERENT RECIPES, THERES ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE SOMETHING & HAS AN OPINION, WHICH IS ALWAYS WELCOME AS THIS TEACHES ME HOW TO BE A BETTER COOK. I AM VERY MUCH INTO COOKING NEW AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I HAVE NOT TRIED BEFORE. GROWING UP AS A CHILD MY FATHER & MOTHER WERE FROM THE SOUTH SO, I WAS TAUGHT TO EAT SOUTHERN COOKED OR SOUL FOODS, WHICH IS VEY LIMITED WHEN YOU ARE NOT BIG ON ALOT OF THE THINGS THEY PREPARE. NOW THAT I AM A MOTHER AND I LIVE IN THE CITY, MY DAUGHTER ENJOYS SOUTHERN JUST AS MUCH AS AMERICAN FOOD, SO I AM ALWAYS TRYING AN ARRAY OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOODS, FROM AMERICAN TO CHINEESE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN! AT CHRISTMAS AND THANKSGIVING, AS WELL AS THE NEW YEAR IT IS ALL ABOUT FAMILY COOKING!! GREENS, BONE IN HAM, TURKEY, CORNBREAD, PINTO BEANS, DRESSING, MAC & CHEESE, BLACK EYE PEAS, CABBAGE, PECAN PIE, PUMPKIN PIE, SWEET POTATO PIE AND OF COURSE, TWO OF MY FAVORITES, PEACH COBBLER & BANANA PUDDING!! I AM VERY GOOD AT MAKING BAKED FOODS {SWEETS}. AT CHRISTMAS TIME, I AM ALWAYS THE ONE CHOSEN TO MAKE THE CAKES, COOKIES AND PIES!! ALTHOUGH, I CAN MAKE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT I AM ASKED TO MAKE, I WOULD PROBABLY SAY THIS IS MY STRONGEST AREA WHEN IT COMES TO COOKING. IN THE PAST, I WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT WHEN I MADE A TRAGEDY OF A SPECIFIC FOOD OR RECIPE I WAS PREPARING, I WOULD NOT MAKE IT AGAIN. THROUGH EXPERIENCE, AS I GOT OLDER I AM A BIT MORE LENIENT ON MYSELF WHEN IT COMES TO COOKING DISASTERS!! I WILL ATTEMPT TO TRY A FEW MORE TIMES AND IF IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THEN THE FIRST TIME, I FINALLY GIVE UP!! WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE 3 THINGS I STILL HAVE NOT MASTERED WHEN IT COMES TO COOKING, AND I AM A BIT EMBARRASSED TO EVEN ADMIT IT AS THEY ARE VERY SIMPLE TO MAKE, BUT AS A 35 YEAR OLD AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PREPARED & EATEN FREQUENTLY IN MY FAMILY AND PROBABLY ALL SOUTHERN FAMILIES...THAT IS WHY IT IS HARD TO ADMIT!! LOL!! DON'T LAUGH, BUT THE 3 THINGS THAT I HAVE STILL YET TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE IS BISCUITS, CHICKEN DRESSING, AND FRIED FISH!!! SIMPLE HUH? WELL, UNFORTUNATELY 3 OF MY TRAGEIDIES WOULD DEFINITLEY BE THE 3 I LISTED ABOVE. I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THESE TO TURN OUT THEY WAY I WANT THEM TO. ANY ADVICE?