My husband and I recently had a house built in a beautiful wooded setting just outside of Ithaca, NY. My dream is to grow and produce as much of our own food as possible. This spring we got 6 chickens (first eggs came this week!)and next I would like to get goats. I can and freeze lots of produce and our best meals include fresh vegetables and fruits. When I'm not busy in the garden or kitchen, I like to run, bike, or cross country ski. I was a vegetarian for about 20 years, and vegan for part of that time, and now I eat meat on rare occasions. My cooking tends to go through phases. For weeks at a time, I will cook only Indian food, or use only a certain cookbook, or experiment with raw foods. Then I get bored and switch to something else. I try to focus on whole foods but I do love desserts too! I guess I can't think of meals or dishes that stand out as triumphs. Last night I made salmon with balsamic glaze, quinoa salad with greens from the garden, and a sweet/tart cake made with wild apples. Yum!