I need recipes for ideas and measurements, but oddly enough I never actually measure. I read the recipe and then totally eyeball it. I am still fairly new at cooking, but incredibly adventurous. I feel in a few years I will be coming up with my own recipes easily. I have a few but it's so hard to get down on paper because I don't measure and just taste and add as I go. I have to be careful with many recipes, or change them up to suit my daughter's needs. She has dairy, egg, and severe nut allergies. We have incorporated a lot of soy into our diets, which turns many off but it's become quite natural and healthy for us. I like to work on new desserts. I tend to sneak little semi-healthy changes into recipes. I have been working with whole wheat flour for a while now. I'm big on veggies... but so help me, there is nothing better than a big steak. I am very starch conscious. If you sit down to a plate of mashed potatoes, corn, mac n cheese and rolls, you're doing something wrong! That stuff just moves like glue in your body. When the cool of autumn is setting in and the mountains surrounding me begin to turn, I get soup, stew, and chili fever. I really crave the 'stick to your rib' meals. The holidays are so much fun for me too. I begin early making special treats to give to friends and family as gifts. It is always much appreciated. I feel making your gifts adds a touch of warmth (that not even a pair of gloves and scarves can rival!) My breads, my own jerky (thank you T-Bird's! on this site) I can make gorgeous layer cakes, my kid's train birthday cake (it was a huge hit!) and my very own Salmon recipe on this site (Soy Ginger Salmon) The 5-star reviews I received put me on cloud-9, I was just beside myself with joy. And just as equally upset about the 3-star review... and don't ask what will happen when I get a 1-star. I may not get out of bed for a week! Don't worry, my skin is getting thicker... Anything asian! I try, I really do, but I just burn it or I'm in the kitchen so long that I've well exceeded the five or six dollars it would cost me to just eat buffet! Chef Wangs (Murfreesboro, TN) is the most delicious restuarant in the world, I'm not sure why I bother. I mean, a quart of Hot and Sour soup for $2.50?!!? I've already spent that once I buy the broth to start with. But then my competitive side convinces me that we're doing it for the success of making it yourself! I'm back in front of the stove again.