I'm your average middle-aged married floral designer; we live about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh, PA. I have a son who is quite an adventurous eater...he's only 8 this year (2009), but he loves artichokes, crab, anchovies, capers, mushrooms, etc., etc.! I love the old-fashioned heirloom recipes that have been handed down from my grandma, good ol' farm stick-to-your-ribs comfort foods. I make corned beef & cabbage every St. Patrick's Day (my maiden name is O'Leary!); We canned every summer growing up, and my sisters & I still do; My husband & son help me make 5 gallons of refrigerator pickles (my Uncle Ronnie's recipe) every summer to give away to family & friends. Since I grew up in Pittsburgh, I was very proud of myself when I learned to make stuffed cabbage! When I was around 14, I decided to make popcorn balls. The recipe called for 1/2 tsp. vinegar, but I thought it said 1/2 cup (oops!). Also discovered (that same day) that you shouldn't put unpopped popcorn kernels down the garbage disposal (my dad almost killed me!).