Cooking is one of my passions, and the way I express appreciation and love for my family & friends. It's nice to know that they look forward to being invited over for dinner! My absolute favorite recipes are clones from restaurants--it's so much fun to have people ask "did you really make this?" I also enjoy pastas, vegetable dishes, and creating lower fat, healthier recipes from those that aren't so healthy. Every year for my husband's birthday, I bake his favorite cheesecake, and my daughter gets her favorite birthday cake (it changes every year). At Christmas, I love baking biscotti for gifts and myself; ). Each Christmas I host dinner for my family, and it's the one time during the year that I get to cook everything for them! I plan the menu for weeks-having a successful meal is the highlight of my year. Also, every New Year's Eve, I host a dinner for friends, and they get so excited about being invited--it's great to know that I can cook something they enjoy so much!