I am a part-time homemaker, part-time teacher. I have three children and have been married for over fourteen years. One of my strongest suits as a wife is my insistence on cooking a full, proper, great tasting meal. I often strive to make my dishes with fresh, whole foods. At the end of the meal, I frequently have dessert ready such as pie or cookies. I love to bake! Bread, scones, cookies, pies, tortes, cakes, muffins. You name the baked good, and I've probably tried making it. I am afraid to say that I really don't know any family cooking traditions. My mom is a wonderful baker, but we have been separated such a long time that I haven't really been able to gleen that information from her. I am self-taught. My most triumphant cooking triumph was when I served an appetiser meal to my mother-in-law, brother-in-law and their families. It was a couple nights before Christmas and the family hadn't been together in years. I chose all my recipes from allrecipes.com and was able to sit back and watch this family eat, drink, and be merry....and they were merry. They loved the food and were impressed that I could put together and meal like that with only a few years of marriage under my belt. I felt really proud. My worst cooking tragedy happened when I entertained a group of Navy wives at my home. It was dessert night and I had attempted to make a chocolate torte. It didn't set up properly and I had give in the fact that I had done something wrong. All the women were waiting for my dessert , but I had to announce my failure instead.