I am a recent college grad, a banker, and a blushing bride as of July 2005. My husband is a pharmacist and works a LOT of odd hours. While he's at work I love to destroy the kitchen trying new recipes, then clean the mess before his return. My dog Rusty, a Boston Terrier, is always more than willing to be an appreciative taste tester! My kitchen is still like Christmas every day because I always find new gadgets and doo-dads still in the package that were wedding gifts. It's great (we had 350 people at our wedding) so it should continue for a while. I always look for little ways to make dishes healthier. Here are a few of my regular recipe changes: -Omit/reduce salt ALWAYS -Use low-sodium varieties of products -substitute whole-wheat whenever possible -cook and fry in canola oil -substitute for crisco to avoid trans fats -drain fried and fatty foods well on paper towels -substitute low-fat (not usually NO-fat) versions of products if it won't affect the dish LOVE desserts. Can I say that again?! LOVE desserts! Chocolate, peanut butter, cheesecake... wow! I also love appetizers. I've been known to have a gazillion appetizers instead of a meal when I entertain. That way you know that if one thing is bad or someone doesn't like something there's always a good alternative. Besides everyone loves to graze! Yum! Thanksgiving is our big family holiday. Our ENTIRE family is always there on the same day. We always try to out do each other with all the additional junk foods we bring to nosh on while we cook the "real". Sweet rolls, candies, snack mixes, you name it... we eat it. Hmmmm. I would say my peanut-butter pie. All the guys in my family gush over it, and isn't that a triumph? When you're known for a dish. When I was maybe 16 I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Not good. Not only did they come out flat, I burnt most of them. The farm cats wouldn't even eat them, so my brothers used them as clay pigeons and shot them. They will NEVER let me live that down. Although they love my desserts now, I STILL have not had a really great batch of chocolate chip cookies. Thus, I've given up, I use refridgerated dough... it's just as good anyway!