I love the outdoors, although I wish I could get out in the woods more often. My lovely family, my life with computers, and my love of cooking keeps me from spending nights outside as often as I'd like. I spend a lot of time traveling, mostly to Australia, which I really enjoy. For a busy household, quick meals are my specialty. My daughter has gained a well-rounded palette, except for some vegetables, which I don't like all that much myself either. I love to cook chicken noodle soup variations (fast), shrimp and seafood (fast), and Indian and Thai curries (when I have time). Healthy alternative and ingredients have become a staple, including whole wheat flour, flaxseed, and beans. My mother is an excellent cook, and my siblings and I have inherited her love and ease of cooking. I'd have to say that Lasagnas and casseroles would be our family tradition, though we don't make them all that often. Cost prohibitive, but delicious, is my shrimp bisque. Indian cooking is challenging, but the flavors are so robust. Paneer Vindaloo and paneer sagwala are my Indian specialties, especially when I can make my own paneer. Directly from stove to trash is not unheard of. I continue to work on whole grain bread, which generally rises nicely, and falls promptly. Straight to the trash.