I am a Mama to 3 girls: 10 1/2, 8, and 5; Wife of 13 yrs to a dear man; Teacher to a class of preschoolers 2-5 yrs at our local college's center, and Student at the same college. I am an educator in my heart and I try to find a way to share my passions with everyone I am around. Whether they want me to or not! :) I love the chopping of veggies, simmering of sauces, and roasting of meats in Italian cuisine. Every meal I create that does not involve corndogs and mac&cheese is enjoyable to me! I love using my grandmother's dutch oven, my great-aunt's ice cream scoop, and the mixing bowls I received as wedding gifts when I cook with my 3 girls. I have my great-grandmother's recipe box that we pull down and look through. Seeing the fingerprints from chocolate cake batter on a much-loved recipe helps bring to life a dear lady my girls never got to meet. Any meal I get 3 picky daughters and my husband (he prefers to think of himself as having a palate!) to all eat without complaint! The first Thansgiving my mother-in-law me to bake the pumpkin pies....I left out the pumpkin pie spice! I was busy nursing my daughter and missed dessert with the family, and no one said a word to me about it. I finally had a slice after we were home and was so embarrassed....it's been 10 years and she still asks me to bring just bread and jello salad!