I love to cook--and cooking is truly relaxing and is my "therapy". I was a home economics major in college and have taught cooking for 30 years. My greatest cooking influence is my Mom (who is now 91) and other home cooks. My favorite cooking experiences have been in cooking with my family, grandkids and people in my cooking classes. I love to cook for others and have dinner parties. I recently complied all my recipes on the computer and generated my own cookbook. I love to be able to take "goodies" to all the neighbors on a regular basis. Trying new recipes is fun and keeps cooking interesting and fun. This web-site is great for trying out new things. Cookies!!!! Actually I love to bake about anything--pies, cakes, cookies, yeast breads, quick bread, etc. I enjoy cooking just about anything, but have to say that baking is my favorite. I also love to garnish and make pleasing presentations to the foods that I prepare. I have all the neighborhood kids over at all major holidays to make and decorate cookies, candies, etc. We also do simple craft projects that go with the holiday. I make and decorate them special bags for taking their "goodies" home. We then follow with dinner for parents and kids. Finishing my cookbook!!! (It's been in the works for many years!!!) I made many apple pies for a summer BBQ party and forgot to put the thickening in the filling--hince runny apple pies!! I also was cooking breakfast for 35 co-workers and had waffle batter mixed in a huge bowl. I was moving the bowl to another counter where the waffle machines were lined up and dropped the bowl on my stove top. All the batter ran down in the cooking elements and in the oven. The oven was on and baking muffins at the time so I had a major mess--and this was about 10 minutes before everyone was due to arrive.