When I was five years old I got down every container of spice my mother had and was tasting them. She came in and started scolding me and my grandmother walked in behind her and said "now Florence, don't yell at her. If she doesn't taste them how will she ever learn which ones to use for what. That began my love both of cooking and of spices and herbs. Not to mention that in that moment my grandmother was elevated to the status of sainthood in this little girl's eyes. Since that day, you couldn't keep me out of the kitchen with a stick. I enjoy making breads and baked things most of all. Cakes, brownies,casseroles, roasts. I also have a knack for gravy and make various kinds often. Staying up all night the day before Thanksgiving and slow cooking the Turkey while putting the rest of the meal together. My first time making the Thanksgiving turkey for my family of eight and guests at the age of thirteen. Winning first and second place in the 4-h banana bread contest. I had baked both loaves at the same time from the same batter and let my sister enter the spare loaf because she begged me. My brand new Chedder beer bread that I made up entirely. Oh man, is it good! A pot of pinto beans that I cooked for three days and they were still as hard as rocks. The first time I made sugar cookies and someone had dumped self rising flour in the regular flour bin, so they spread all over the cookie sheet in a thin brown shell.