I have been cooking since I was 4 years old-my Dad would stand me on a stool.(and supervise!) My dad's hobby was cooking, so I was exposed early to foods my friends had never even heard of.(being stationed in Japan, he brought back innovative ingredients and ideas for his cooking) Julia Childs and the Galloping Gourmet were my favorite shows to watch with dad...I even have some original "spurtles" from the 70's. I have worked in nice restaurants almost my entire life-it seems I just have to be surrounded by fabulous food and food-lovers! I love baking-breads, desserts, anything really! I just LOVE to cook, especially new recipes-I am afraid I am completely addicted to the allrecipes site :oP Nothing beats a bad day like hanging out in the kitchen, browsing allrecipes, getting inspired like crazy, and creating...It is the best form of stress release-my own tension tamer! My son and I would get up together on weekends, pick apples off the tree and make applesauce for our French Toast. One morning when he was 2 he insisted on potato chips for breakfast, so I made some tortilla chips and incorporated them into a frittata-it was his breakfast of choice for AGES... When my son was little, he NEVER had store bought babyfood, juices or treats-I made everything from scratch. (I love Farmer's Markets!!) My husband chooses my cooking over ANY restaurant, and my son tells me I am the next Martha Stewart. My favorite thing is to go into the kitchen after my family swears there is NOTHING to eat-and whip up some spontaneous and fantastic meal from what ever is lying around. They are always delightfully amazed. While growing up, my Gramma made the BEST biscuits and gravy, so one year I drove down and spent the weekend perfecting my gravy making with her. It was a wonderful experience-she was a fantastic cook-and to this day my gravies ROCK! Thanks Gramma :) I had an entire week where almost everything I cooked either burned or caught on fire....strange! Thank goodness that it was only that one week.