I have been cooking since I was 10 years old...learned from my mother, a great cook in her own right. One of my first toys was the Easy Bake Miniwave Oven. I've had 4 years of professional cooking classes from the University of Wisconsin - Stout. My degree is in Hospitality and Tourism Management. I am a Corporate Meeting and Event Planner for a company in the Twin Cities Metro Area. I love my job!!! Being a busy working gal, I find that pasta dishes are the most "working woman friendly." I also enjoy making soups and appetizers. My appetizer file is the thickest file in my cupboard, because I entertain often, and always like to try new things. My favorites are dips and spread recipes...hot or cold. I come from a long line of great cooks. I mentioned my mother was incredible, but so was my maternal grandmother and my paternal grandfather. Both hailed from North Dakota. So, the food they prepared was simple hearty food, prepared with care and love. There was no such thing as "low fat" or "light" in my grandparents kitchens, God bless 'em! That's why it tasted SO GOOD! BBQ ribs on the grill that were to DIE for...fall-off-the-bone tender. I also made "pizza rustica" on my grill that tasted like authentic neopolitan pizza. But, I'd have to say that whenever I cook for friends or family, and they ask me for the recipe, that I consider that to be a "cooking triumph." It's the biggest compliment someone can pay you! Ugh, I've made some clunkers in my time. The most recent was turkey jerky. I made it in my oven...it was horrendous! Instead of drying out, it "candied." I think I used too much sugar in the marinade.