I'm a music teacher who likes to express her creativity not just through the fine arts but the culinary arts as well. I love replicating food and recipes from our travels. I've made Hawaiian dishes after our honeymoon. Acadian chicken and bread pudding after our visit to Nova Scotia And even a 'meatball' pizza after a trip to Little Italy in New York City. My Grandfather was a cook in the army during World War II and was able to cook really great down home recipes from the rural traditions of Iowa. I spent much time in the kitchen helping him. My mom carried on his traditions and also has expanded her repertoire to gourmet and international dishes. I made a tirimisu that served twenty people. I actually was able to put it on a cake board and stuck candles in it. My friend Jane was celebrating her 50th birthday and she tirimisu is her favorite dessert. It's hard to choose, but the muffins I made by accidently adding cornstarch instead of baking soda is one of my biggest goofs. Wow-they were hard as rocks and could be used as lethal weapons. Be careful when cooking and talking on the phone at the same time........