Cooking helps me relax. I always cooked one meal a week for my family in high school and liked the smiles on my families faces when I made a great meal. I am the Director of Catering for a hotel and help plan meals (though our Executive Chef prepares them). My family consists of a non-picky husband who loves (almost) everything, a 17 year old boy who wants simple things, a 8year old who only likes hot dogs and a 6 year old who eats whatever I think he won't eat. It's an interesting mix. My philsophy is - if you don't like it - well then make something yourself. I love cooking with shrimp. My new favorite is southern cooking - jambalayas, creole, cajun...lots of spice. I do not like to bake...but I love to make appetizers, salads, side dishes and of course main dishes (my favorite!) I am norwegian and grew up with some very interesting holiday meals. Lefse was always a family favorite and many norwegian cookies. We ate a lot of casseroles growing up in the 70's. Hamburger being the main meat. My mother always loved lamb, but we didn't have a lot of money, so she made ground lamb patties, wrapped with bacon - served with mint jelly - YUCK! I still can't eat lamb to this day. An incredible Jambalaya when we went camping. I was serving 10 hungry people (5 who had been fishing all day) - Everyone was going back for thirds. It was great! Chicken Breast, Smoked Sausage, peppers, tomatoes, onions and rice...what else could be better? When I was 8 years old I wanted a egg salad sandwich like my mom would make me. I cracked two raw eggs on bread and ate it. EEK!