First and most importantly, I'm a mom. They're almost grown up now, but they're my reason for being. I love having their friends over for meals and cookouts, and I try to keep a steady supply of baked goodies on hand for everyone. I'm always trying to feed everyone, the more the merrier. Sweet with savory is my favorite taste experience, so I like to do fruit salsas and relishes with heavily spiced meats or grains. Current favorite things include jerk seasoning, salsa verde, and fresh guacamole, not all together, of course! Every holiday sees the traditional foods, no matter if we're having company or if it's just me and the kids. I continue my mom's traditions of making turkey croquettes after Thanksgiving, ham pot pie after Easter, etc. It's comforting. Another tradition is Christmas cookies; I always make tons, some new and some staples like spritz, butterballs, and thumbprints. Silly little things make me happy, like finally creating an exact mimicry of this fabulous sweet cornbread I once had at a Dayton restaurant, the first time I made rosti potatoes like I had enjoyed in New Glarus Wisconsin, oooooh, and blintzes, which I discovered 20 years ago in Vegas. I had a kitchen fire in 2000 due to leaving the stove unattended...