I am a stay at home Mom, who enjoys creating and learning things from scratch. I will learn the short cuts after I master the "long way". Well... there are some exceptions. Indian dishes like khorma and Khofta. Well, with my mother it was easy cassoroles dishes. After while, my siblings and I grew tired of cassoroles and vowed to stay away from them, unless they look and smell really good. Luckly, our Great Aunt lived us and taught us the basics, including canning and making jellies. When we come together it is amazing that all of us are really good cooks. *A smile from my husband when any dish I make taste simular to his mother's. * When my husband joins me in the kitchen to help make a dinner party a success. He is an excellent cook. I try to forget. However, I do remember pulling out the fire extinquisher on 2 occassions.