I love to cook. Especially desserts, but also comfort food people truly enjoy. I am a genealogists and have spent some time recreating recipes I have found that were passed down through the generations in my family. Although our children are grown now, my husband and I still have two beautiful babies, our beagles. The love to sit and watch me in the kitchen, hoping I drop something I'm sure! I love to cook desserts. Mostly chocolate but I also love to make pies and cookies to give to others. Christmas is a favorite time because there are so many sweets to make. My other favorites are comfort foods my grandmother taught me to make. Some I've taught myself because she just didn't have time to teach it all. We live in Missouri and basics like meat and potatoes are a staple. Homemade breads, pancakes, and homestyle foods are a must. The holiday food traditions we have are a big hit with my family. Old fashioned roll out dumplings,chicken and/or turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, bread stuffing with lots of sage, and of course apple and pumpkin pie. Oh, don't forget the homemade yeast rolls! My husband is of Irish/German descent and after traveling to Germany in the Army fell in love with traditional German foods. I have mastered schnitzel, home fries (cubed potatoes with onion), currywurst and bratwurst for him. He says it tastes like the German foods he remembers in the homes he visited. Lots of good food on your plate and no one leaves the table hungry. For years now I have been the family fudge maker at Christmas. Every year is a new challenge. Old-fashioned cocoa fudge with black walnuts is my Mom's favorite treat. Living in Missouri humidity is a big factor. I have made fudge a few times that had the consistency of chocolate sugar. Mome loves it no matter how it turns out though. From chocolate sugar to the fudge she has to eat with a spoon, she loves it all. Although, I have gotten better with practice I still have some disasters.