I love to cook things that will make my family feel special! I like to take my time and taste and smell my food. If I'm trying a new recipe, I want to be able to devote all of my attention towards it. I love the sense of accomplishement I get after making great food! I grew up watching my wonderful mother bake fabulous things time and time again. Everyone is always in awe of her baking! She taught me that eye appeal is 75% of the battle so I always strive to make things that look great as well as taste great! Cakes and cookies!! Every year at Christmas my mom bakes home-made gingerbread cookies and we eat them Christmas morning as we open presents together. There's nothing else like them!!! Steak Pizziola. My husband took one taste and told me that it was so great if we weren't already married, he would've married me. My first attempt at risotto was horrible!! I stirred the rice too much so it ended up crunchy, yuck!!