I am a working, stay-at-home mom of 3. My daughters are 11 and 9 and my son is a Senior at West Virginia University! I live for my kids and our time together. I am a teacher's aid in an Emotional Support classroom for behaviorally challenged 4th and 5th graders; and I love my job!!! I enjoy outdoor activities, volunteering, dinner and social parties, movie nights, and yes...SHOPPING! I love to cook and bake both, although baking is something I share more frequently with friends. I previously worked seasonally in management at a country club and have learned many great tips and cooking methods from our chef. I love trying new recipes and refer to this site several times weekly! Our favorite dishes at home are Mexican, Italian and Mediterranean options. I opt for chicken and fish/shellfish recipes most as they are healthier. We are big spice, seasoning, and marinade fans and we joke here, "You can't use enough garlic". I love baking and bake frequently to give to friends, teachers, or neighbors. I don't have to keep my baked goods...I just like the baking enough I'll share! I resort to crock-pot meals weekly too as we are a BUSY family and preparation/clean-up is a breeze! I would say, cooking with my mom. She is from France and has great culinary skills! Picked up many ideas from her. She also has a nice knowledge of wine...and that's a good thing! :-) I love baking with my kids as they enjoy everything from cracking the first egg to licking the spoon when we're done! I take every compliment and/or rave from anybody to be a cooking triumph, especially on new recipes. Knowing the recipe is a hit and something we'd like again is rewarding. Meatloaf!!! I know, I know; it's relatively simple right? Well, I've tried meatloaf recipes so many times (beef and venison) and they flop for me each time. Just the one thing I cannot make! I can do souffle'. I can do flaming desserts. I can do ethnic recipes to no end. But meatloaf gets the better of me!