I'm a single mommy to the most handsome son on the planet. I am a former professional ballerina who still teaches. I'm back to school to finish the degree I couldn't finish way back when. I think I am happiest when people I care about rant on about how good my so-and-so is. I certainly don't consider myself gourmet, but, what I do, I do pretty well. Italian. Definitely Italian. And candy at Chrstmas. Oh, and Mexican. And ribs in the slow cooker. My mother was a superb cook. Christmas at my house started before Thanksgiving, when she started her fruitcakes,aka 'rum cakes' ;). I remember a fine coating of powdered sugar covered the entire kitchen when she made her Fatigmann's. We always had a good time. I have two. The first was the day I FINALLY made cream gravy. Don't laugh. I was 18, married, and hundreds of miles from home. Besides, Mom was a Yankee, and she didn't have a clue, either. lol. I was so excited I called home to tell my Dad. He was Texan, and he KNEW. It was a banner day. The second was the day I made my first cheesecake. Despite a rainy day outside, I somehow managed to get my egg whites to form stiff peaks. I can still taste it. lol. Wish I had that recipe....*sigh* I tried a waermelon pie once that would turn away the most die-hard sweet tooth. My family did their best, but even I couldn't eat it. And then there was the time I overcooked the brisket to a dried lump the day I was having my best friends over for Fourth of July. We still laugh about that one.