I am a full-time Mom and wife, in addition to working a full-time job outside our home. I've been interested in cooking/baking and have loved food all my life. When I was a kid, I preferred watching 'The Frugal Gourmet' and Julia Child over cartoons! My favorite thing to cook is anything that will make my boys happy. My husband loves Italian food, so I've perfected Spaghetti and Meatballs and a few other pasta dishes for his enjoyment. My son loves apple pie and pierogi, so I make them for him as special treats every now and again. We never really had any traditions growing up, but we did eat a wide variety of foods. I have recently begun cooking as close to 'from scratch' as I can, using as few processed products as possible. We joined a CSA this summer, and I'm really excited to begin purchasing as much of our produce as close to home as possible. I am also learning to can and dehydrate, so that we can enjoy our local summer bounty year round! What I am most proud of is the progress I have made with cake decorating; I am self-taught from books and the internet. Cake decorating is so much more fun and satisfying than insurance; too bad it doesn't pay as well or I'd try to make a career out of it. (o: I can't recall any significant tragedies. I've been cooking and baking since I was 6 years old, so I'm sure there have been a few disappointments over the years.