I am a Past Worthy Advisor of the Clearwater Rainbow for Girls, thought I would be a Grandmother many times over by now, but not even a wedding yet (children are 30 & 32!) I was BORN to be a Mother & Grandmother, but while I (patiently(?) wait for the latter to happen, I occupy myself with all of the above - the biggest challenge is that there is not enough time in the day for so many great things to do! As my Mother did, at 57 I still feel 30 - it's very strange - especially when I look in the mirror! I still love to sing - we are trying to find a new home church in this little town so I can sing in the choir again. I love the water, and could never imagine living very far from it. I have been married for 13 years to an Angel of a man (who is (pleasantly) 12 years my junior!) I worry about my grown children every day (naturally), and look forward to them settling down. I doubt that I could live without cooking, music and art - they bring me so much joy. I'm trying to lose weig The best thing I make is Lasagna - everyone who tries it says it is the best they have ever had. My Mother grew up in New Haven, Connecticutt over an Italian family - fortunately that woman taught my Mom how to cook Italian! Actually I should have said it is my favorite thing to cook - I suppose it is, but I generally make it only once a year for family birthdays. I love creating new dishes - it is so much fun to see my husband's reaction - he always goes crazy - especially over my sauces. One of the simplest, but a favorite is Thanksgiving turkey, deciding on which desserts to make, etc. I love the smells of cooking - particularly baking - cakes, cookies, pies, breads - YUMMY! My number 1 favorite thing to cook would have to be anything I know the family will love! I already discussed this a bit, but anything that has been passed down thru the generations - like our lasagna and meatballs, our beef stroganoff, our very special "Sausage Meat Cake" (I usually call it "spice cake" for anyone who is unfamiliar with it). My Father's Mother always sent one to me for my birthday no matter where we lived - even to Germany for a few years! (It ages beautifully) I love making my Mom's "Salad Dressing", which is so simple and can be used for the best potato salad and coleslaw I've ever had! I have to mention my absolute favorite tradition that my Mom made - every one of my birthdays she made "Chocolate Steamed Pudding" - Ohhh... it makes my mouth water thinking of it - I've never even made it, but it's one of my goals this year - it was very similar to the "Molten Chocolate Cake" you see in restaurants today - her's was the best, though, and instead of vanilla ice cream she make a vanilla hard sauce (frosting) and put a huge dollop of it on top - Oh bo #1 would have to be each time I make Lasagna - of course it wouldn't be the same without The Sauce! (which of course cooks all day). Last year I make a Lemon Cake with a Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting - now it is a new family & friends' favorite, and has been added permanently to our "Box". Another "triumph" actually occurred almost 30 years ago when, upon having dinner with my childrens' Father's company in a very nice restaurant, received an amazing recipe from the Maitre D' - he wrote the restaurant's recipe for Cesaer Salad Dressing. My children still tell me when they have one that comes close to being as good as ours - doesn't happen very often - there are a few "secret ingredients" in it that make it absolutely sensational. I've only handed it out a few times, but it is definitely a "Triumph" every time I make it! I have also felt somewhat triumphant when I've been able to add or change something in my Mom's old recipes and have improved them - for instance, her Pumpkin Brea One time I made my favorite Pumpkin Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting, baked in a bundt pan. We had to leave (with the cake), I didn't have time to let the cake cool enough before putting the glaze (in my case frosting because I always double it and make it thicker), and it was a disaster! What a wreck it was - it was for a church we visited, but surprisingly, in spite of the way it looked, people ate it and loved it anyway! I was still pretty embarrassed because my cakes are usually pretty. I just remembered another "tragedy" - just a couple of months ago - with the same cake! I frosted it, decorated it with candy corn, left the kitchen to change clothes because we were driving to my sister's for Thanksgiving. My husband and I walked back to the kitchen when we were ready, turned the corner, and, "Oh my gosh! I almost had a heart attack!" Our new cat was standing - all fours, on top of the cake - it was a complete mess - of course he looked up at us with the most innoc