I started cooking in elementary school - a long time ago! I have been married for almost 19 years and we have a son and a daughter. I am trying hard to teach my kids to cook. My son makes great bacon/egg/cheese bagels for breakfast and can make killer chocolate chip cookies as well. My daughter has little interest right now, but will help out in the kitchen to spend time with me (I treasure that, because I know before long they'll be nowhere in sight!). I'm a graphic designer for a newspaper company and manage the composing department, so long hours are not unusual. I need to be better planning meals ahead of time and finding FAST recipes for weeknights. I love to cook and on weekends it seems I'm always feeding extra mouths - friends are always welcome for dinner here! Outside of the kitchen I love to snowmobile, watch the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers, garden, read, and be with friends. I love to cook just about anything! I have always admired those who can create something from items on hand, without the use of a recipe - I can't seem to get past the need to at least have a starting point with a recipe. I often change them to fit our tastes, but I seem to need that "crutch" so to speak. I have been preparing Easter dinner for the last 10 years, and usually host both sides of our family that day. I also love baking Christmas cookies with my mom and mother-in-law.