I'm 27 years old, I've been in the kitchen watching since I was 4. I've been trying to cook since I was 10. Most of the recipes I know are ones that were passed down through my family (mother's side). I have 3 children of my own now. My first born is a bit picky, but willing to try just about anything. My third will eat anything you put in front of him including collard greens, (one of his odd favorites). My #2 is by far the pickiest child you could ever imagine, worse than I ever was, and I was pretty bad. My husband of ten years is a mad genius in the kitchen, he can make just about anything without the use of a recipe card, and 8 times out of 10 the dishes turn out wonderful. The only thing is he can never remember how he really made it once he's finished, so it never comes out the same way twice. I'm the main cook in the house. I love baking especially, and am a big fan of Southern, Mexican, & Japanese cuisine. Oh and I'm a big chocoholic. I have a secret stash that even Anything that my family request, and things that test my abilities whether it turns out good or bad. Cooking outside whether it be when I was little, or now. Something about cooking outside, be it grilling, making ice cream on the porch, shucking oysters, or roasting marshmallows, has always seemed to be when everyone is having the best time either helping out, entertaining, or playing around. Finally remembering to switch the microwave/convection oven to convection. My first cooking attempt ever was trying to make brownies, I mixed them up perfectly, greased my pan, and put them in the microwave/convection oven. My mom had told me to make sure I switched it to convection before I turned it on, but for some reason I immediately forgot, and didn't switch it. Well to say the least I was extremely disappointed. But I've never been one to give up, so I kept trying, each time thinking that I would be successful, and to my dismay never was for 5 years except for maybe 8 times over half of those were because my mother would put them in the oven for me.