Until recently I would not have considered myself a good cook. I have always been a good homemaker and wife, but always had worked and that didn't leave a lot of time for cooking or any hobbies really. SO, I stuck with what I knew. A few yrs ago we adopted 3 kids, I added great Mother to my qualities and I quit the typical workforce and stay very busy at home w/our family and home...which I never saw myself doing. In my down time, I have been exploring different crafts and baking/cooking in the winter especially (we have a very long winter). This started out as things I did for the family, but I really find that they are the things that keep me sane. So, it's what I do. Mexican, everyone loves it, including my Dad...it's how I bribe him to come over. Italian, not sure why, but we all love it. Has to be baking Christmas cookies, the whole family gets involved. I make a mean Christmas dinner as well, the kids really enjoy the "roast beast"...the Grinch fans should know. I am also in charge of baking the pies at Thanksgiving, thanks to my Mother in law for teaching me her recipes. Other than that I love that I can have dinner done at a reasonable time each night and that my hubby will call and ask me what's for dinner because he can't wait to try it. Well, last night I tried my 1st attempt at simmered Stuffed Cabbage Rolls and Made a Grilled Mexican "Lasagna", both in under an hour, while entertaining and trying to carry on a conversation, with everyone staring at me and my husband was under my feet. All in under in an hour. I was proud...they were both wonderful, but I will doctor the cabbage stuffing some more and then put my recipe on maybe. Oh, so so many. My main one still persists. I cannot make a cake to save my life. Scratch or box. There are always lopsided and flat, and I usually have to bake way longer than instructed. I can't figure it out. But I will keep trying...2 of my kids have birthdays this month and they have made their requests for cakes, so maybe they aren't that bad;)