Former professional caterer, now (believe it or not) a licensed practicing cosmetologist with a salon in Grover Beach CA. I love to bake...especially around the holidays! I am first generation born in the United States. My parents are fron the french providence of Quebec, Canada. I was raised on French-Canadian food which consists of lots of maple syrup and comfort food. I make Toutire which is a french meat pie and a Busche de Noel, which is a yule log made around the holidays. EVERYTHING I have ever entered in the local County Fair I have been awarded FIRST PRIZE. I have never won Best in Fair...I covet that award...maybe someday. I was once featured in the TASTE OF HOME magazine with a story of the first pecan pie I had ever made. I thought that in order to determine the doneness of a pie in the oven that it had to be firm in the middle...you know...like a cake....well, after the THIRD hour of cooking, and the pie getting black on top I took it out of the oven....once it cooled it hardened has hard as PEANUT BRITTLE! We had to use a hand saw to cut it! Oops! I make the BEST pecan pie now...live and learn!