I LOVE to cook and try new things... I lean more towards gourmet cooking, although I found a new passion this summer: GRILLING! I was always too afraid to touch the grill (that was hubby's domain), but he's gladly turned the spatula over to me! I love to make ribs (everyone says they are the best!!) I also love cheesecake. There's definitely a sense of pride when you pull that perfect cheesecake out of the oven! My mom was an excelent cook, she stayed true to her mom's recipes and had handed them down to me. They are staples in my repertoire. My first cheesecake. Nothing like diving right in...I baked a chocolate/white chocolate zebra striped cheesecake. It turned out perfectly! Oh...probably the dozen or so times I almost burned the kitchen down! I easily become distracted (it's hard not to with 2 little kids pulling on my pant leg). I told my husband that my next kitchen will have a door that locks! Kidding!