Work full-time (financial advisor), married 24 years, 2 kids 10,13. Absolutley love to cook. Not into desserts. Specialize in Italian entrees and home cooked meals-chicken and dumplings, meat loaf, etc. Pasta, without a doubt. Christmas Eve-my family comes over and we have an elegant sit down dinner. We have prime rib, twice baked potatoes and a beautiful tossed salad. Happy hour is before dinner with a nice light appetizer and drinks. The last couple of years we have been fortunate in that Santa makes a personal visit to our home during happy hour. He comes in with a gift for each child...smoking a pipe and bringing in the good cheer. After dinner we go into the living room, kids play a few Christmas songs on the piano and then we open gifts. Truly magical. Having my mother believe that I am an exceptional cook. The only tragedy with cooking comes when I don't get to do it enough!