I am the mother of three sassy girls (ages 15, 11 and 5) and have been married to "the shorter, yet more attractive band director" for 16 years. I am also mommy to a big, beautiful kitty named Bella and one incredible Poma-Poo puppy named Luca Brasi. Even though we have young children, we have a mature collective palate. My children are what a friend's nanny calls "good eaters." They like their meat and potatoes, but will dig right in to more complicated fare. I like experimenting with new recipes and trying new things. I have some tried and true family favorites, mostly recipes from friends and family that I haved adapted to suit our tastes. Among my favorites- grits casserole, jambalaya, jerk chicken, and broccoli salad. I absolutely love the thrill of having my daughters in the kitchen with me. I like how they approach creating a meal with the same creative zeal and wide eyed excitement. I like how weekday meals are fast and furious, Saturdays are casual and fun, and Sunday is elaborate and involved. Even Sunday breakfast is more involved with center bisquits and hot tea and coffee. Oh, and of course, the beloved "birthday dinner." When it is your birthday in our family, you get exactly what you want for dinner. I LOVE that my kids ask for family favorites for their special meal. From the 200 peanutbutter cup cupcakes for the band to the "perfect" mashed potatoes (and I do NOT eat mashed potatoes) for my family, I have had quite a few moments of pride in the kitchen. I have really come into my own in the kitchen. I am not afraid of making a "bad" meal or of trying new dishes. Cooking should be something that makes you happy and relaxed. That is my triumph- my cooking is therapy for me and my family enjoys the results. My husband (the shorter yet more attractive band director) loves to tell the story of when we were first married and I decided to make a mint chocolate chip cookie cake. It was like a sheet of mint scented plywood. He also likes to tell the story of our first Thanksgiving- I had the oven on broil, so we had a very well done turkey breast on top and a dimpled, cold turkey breast on bottom. Thank goodness we were young, in love, and on our own. It was laughable because it was the two of us. I would have been mortified if my Southern mother in law or my Yankee mother had been present.