I am a busy woman w/ work, pets, and a dear boyfriend who loves to try my cooking! I enjoy being with friends as well as taking some time to just enjoy my pets, read, cook, etc. Recently, we have started attending wine tastings. I have really learned a lot! If you find it pretentious, try different tastings until you find a group of people & hosts that are informative without any snobbery. It's fun! This year, I'll be planting an herb garden and trying to grow tomatoes and bell peppers for the first time. I love all baking--especially at Christmastime. I host a cookie baking day and exchange each year at Christmas. I enjoy making homemade meat pasta sauce, shepherd's pie, meatloaf, baked asparagus parmesan, chicken dishes and using my new crockpots. I also have been experimenting with new vegetable side dishes. Sauteed spincach w/ garlic & lemon and blanched broccolini w/ proscuitto and mustard sauce are my new favorites. My dad's family is part Polish and I make Kolacky every Christmas and Easter as a special tradition. My mom's family originates from the South and I also enjoy making Southern food--especially chicken & country-style green beans. My next object is to master my grandma's (white) sausage gravy and great-grandma's biscuits. I make great, juicy roasted turkey and great gravy. Enjoy that with some veggies and the day-before mashed potato recipe from this site. Finish off with Dutch Apple Oatmeal Streusel pie from this site as well! So yummy! One time, I feel asleep while boiling water for pasta...it boiled away and I burned up my pot. All before I woke up! NOT GOOD! :-(