My mom did all of the cooking when I lived at home. She was an awesome cook. However, she never used recipes; she always threw stuff together. I never could learn that way and got very frustrated. So I first started baking, something I could easily follow directions on. When I was in my last year of college, my boyfriend (now hubby of 16 years) had to teach me to cook simple things...spaghetti, mac n cheese, etc. I then got the cooking bug and started experimenting, looking through cookbooks as a hobby. I love to cook. Although my mom does not get to sample many of my foods, I have several friends and family that seem to love my cooking now! I love to make desserts, especially chocolate things! Whenever a new recipe does not turn out, my husband says there is always popcorn! (His mom used to say the same thing!)