I live in beautiful Southern Oregon and have an incredible family! I work with my husband of 30 years and we love being together 24/7. Our son and daughter-in-law have given us a grandson & granddaughter, in that order. Our daughter & son-in-law (who live right across the cul-de-sac) have a daughter and are due again next March. Life is good! Mexican food is probably my favorite thing to cook (and eat!). I love using the slow cooker and finding yummy new recipes to try out. My Mom and Mother-In-Law are excellent cooks and I try very hard to live up to their legacy. Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas are the "biggies". For the last 30+ years we've had two meals on these days. It was easy (not on the tummy) when all we had to do was show up. The last 10 years I've been responsible for most of the food. It's challenging, but I don't regret a minute of it. The work is worth the very special times we've had together. My favorite tradition is New Years Eve when my kids (and now with the grandbabies) show up at our house for games and every kind of snack food imaginable. I get a lot of requests for my standard Mexican meal which is Enchiladas (beef and chicken), Refried Beans, Spanish Rice, Guacamole & Chips and Cucumber and Onion Salad. I was trying to duplicate a ginger sauce from a Japanese restaurant that our family loves. I knew that it was suppose to simmer for a long time and the longer it simmered, the worse it smelled. NOT good!