I am a stay at home mom of 5 daughters. I love my "job" and cooking/baking is my therapy on many days. I love the thrill of the find. When I find a new recipe, I love to share it! Over the years I have developed a very sophisticated palate. Trying new foods and sampling local "flav" on vacations is a great joy to me. I love reading cookbooks and discussing food with anyone that will listen. I am truly a foodie now! I am a dessert fan. I would bake any day over cooking. I enjoy trying new recipes every week. I also love finding a good appetizer, so many occasions call for them, its great to have a good base of them to choose from at any given moment. My mother and sister and I grew up baking together. I have the fondest memories of going to grandmas and making our own noodles, canning homemade strawberry jam, and making applesauce. Each holiday was spent baking for neighbors. I am carrying on that tradition with my girls! Planning birthday parties for my kids. I am now a cake decorator and love planning the cake and food for gatherings surrounding a certain theme. And with 5 kids, it seems like I am planning a party every other month:) Oh, too many to count! It is all trial and error, but years of trying have made a huge improvement in my knowledge of food. I enjoy the process, and just love throwing out recipes that don't work. I have so many on file to get to, it really doesn't bother me when one doesn't turn out so I can "lighten my load."