I'm a Navy Brat, raised mostly in California and Virginia. I've lived in Virginia since I was 13, and now consider myself to be a "come-here" Virginian. I love all styles of cookery, but have a special fondness for Southern cooking. I love to bake breads, and I love to cook for my family. My favorite dinner to cook would be meatloaf, mashed potatoes and peas. My family doesn't really have any cooking traditions, other than our spaghetti sauce. My mother learned to make it as a young bride, and she's passed it on to all six of us kids, and we've passed it in turn to our children. We've all changed it a bit, but it's basically the same as Mom makes. My English Muffin Bread...it's what I make for Christmas gifts, and all my family and friends wait all year for it! I tried making chicken soup from scratch once...it was awful! Never really tried again!