I am a mother of 5 children and I have 3 grandchildren. So cooking is just not a hobby, it's a necessity. I am all about family. My 2 younger boys play baseball and my daughter plays fastpitch softball and is in the band. So, even when it's easier to grab fast food after all the events we have, I choose to cook, it saves money, plus spending time together with family over a home cooked meal sets family values. I really enjoy baking desserts. I like to bring a new dessert to a function. I just feel that any get together isn't the same unless it has some type of dessert. I'm not a person that enjoys store brought cakes, not even in a hurry. I'm more of a baker purchaser, their cakes have that little extra care, not just assembly type baking. I am a hispanic, and every year about 1 week before Christmas, we get together at my mother-in-laws and make tamales. There is usually about 8 of us there, and now the teens are getting into the tradition, so just raising another generation of cooks. This is also an opportunity to make recipes I find from this sight to just have on hand to snack while we are making tamales. Thanksgiving(s), yes plural. Every Thanksgiving I make the entire meal, and I will try new methods on old traditions. My father just recently passed away, and Thanksgiving was very special to him, so I guess that's where I decided to make Thanksgiving my own w/o any help, because that was the one thing I could give to my father in return for all my wonderful childhood memories. Plus, he gave me the love of food and cooking. My father was the cook in the family. Trying recipes that are a little too extreme and more than 10 ingredients, and require a little more time & detail. So I have learned to stick to the basics and what I know works.