I love to cook, but hate the mess I make. My huband Bob is so great he is my chief "bottle washer", cleaning up after me so when I'm done the kitchen is in tip top shape. Just this winter I really started venturing out of my comfort zone and straying from the "exact recipe" and adding my own creations. I have actually become almost "obsessed"...cooking more than we can eat. I like to make casseroles and things we can eat a day or two. Love leftovers. Italian and Mexican are some of my favorites, and of course roast. I'm told I make the best mashed potatoes.No matter whose house I'm at they ask me to mash them. I use a stick of butter and milnot..maybe a little milk. The milnot whips so you can't go wrong. I also am pickey about the right amount of salt and pepper - don't want it too bland. My grandkids say I make the best Mac-N-Cheese. And we always have noodles for Thanksgiving. My husband and I have a secret hot wing recipe. It is so secret even we don't know what is in it, because he leaves the room and I add things, I leave the room and he adds more Franks Hot sauce. If one of us dies, so will the recipe. One christmas Eve many, many years ago I put out a spread with all kinds of appetizers, punch bowl that sits on a large glass plate that I decorated with evergreen branches and white twinkle lights and candle lights. It was so beautiful, I'm glad I have a picture of it. I look at it and wonder how in the world I did that. I once made a meatloaf that the dog wouldn't eat. That is pretty bad, since it was 99% meat. I tried to be creative and just threw things in...it was awful! Our schauzer turned his nose up at it. I have only this year perfected my meatloaf...I'll have to post it sometime.