As a kid growing up in a small town in northwest Illinois tending to the family gardens was one of my chores in the summer. Freezing and canning fruits and vegetables was almost a daily activity around the house during the summer. Now that I have grown up (and out) I still tend to the fruits and vegetable but as a produce department manager at a local supermarket. Love to cook and try new things; and rarely do I make a recipe according to the directions, always adding a little of this or that to suite my taste buds. Enjoy family gatherings and entertain guest trying to amaze them with incredible food. Soups and anything on the grill and smoker. Several years ago, I put together a cookbook of my favorite recipes and gave it to my family for Christmas. I also included a section at the end of each recipe page that included Treasured Memories sharing past memories when I was a child, family reunions, photos, birth, marriage, and death dates, family history etc. Everyone enjoyed it so much that I update it each year with the entire family contributing a couple of recipes. This has not only become a great cook book that has the recipes that everyone ask for at the family reunions, it is also a great reference as it includes a lot of family history. Have had a few go into the “winners” category but soups and grilling are definitely my forte. Probably more “Losers” then “Winners“! Regardless of any recipe I try to think of a way to improve by adding a little of this or taking out a little of that.