A grandma on my own, I find life busy -- as most do. Babysit often for 2 families, love children to pieces. International students (female) live with me for whom I cook 3 meals a day and help with their homework. Three married children with 5 grandchildren who live within a three-hour drive in diverse directions. Friends are dear, as is church, as is my "helper", God through the Holy Spirit. I build a fire on cozy winter evenings, knit to my heart's content and count my many, many blessings. Love a corn chowder, curried dishes are warming and delightful, home-made pies are a specialty, BBQ pretty much anything, and lots and lots of vegetables. The best tradition is to have a basic pattern at each meal (except breakfast) of: 1) meat; 2) carb; 3) salad; 4) two vegetables, preferrably different colours. Seldom think in terms of any dessert. I believe when the meal is interesting in taste, texture, and presentation, there is much satisfaction, one has been psychologically satisfied with the "eating process", and dessert would be redundant. Many holiday dinners for family and friends, a phenomenal cheesecake with reconstituted brandied dried fruit topping, many drop in dinners, potato salad recipe passed down for generations. Really believe the magic ingredient in cooking is "love". My children would laugh and instantly say "chocolate chicken" -- ah, yes, we all remember that night well as we consumed the necessary pizza we had to order!!!