My Mother started me cooking at age 9 and enrolled me in 4-H. I began cooking for money in 1986. In 1998 after the death of my husband, I returned to college to earn a culinary degree and have since made cooking my profession as well as my favorite past time. I like to create complete meals for family and friends, however, my favorite things are parties and receptions....any large gathering where good food is needed. The best traditions, of course, are seeing ones children enjoy cooking. My son and both daughters love to cook and are very good in their own rights. Any occassion when people truley enjoy what I have created is a huge triumph and what keeps me passionate about my craft. Tragedies over the years center around having too much or too little food....a knack for correct amounts is one that one develops with experience. I have very thankfully not messed up a recipe yet, but my life is not over!!!!!!!!