I'm an ex-pat new mom of a beautiful and rambunctious 7 month old that loves to keep me on my toes! One of my pleasures is making sure this little one has a healthy, home cooked diet that focusing on nutrition rather than "just feeding" her. I've really been inspired by Asian cooking for the last few years. I just love the combinations of flavors! I have to admit, I also love using new and exciting ingredients. I have fond memories of my father's corned beef and cabbage suppers and his famous baked beans with homemade molasses bread served with a piece of sharp cheddar on the side. The crock pot with the recipe has been passed down in my family for over 90 years! I once made puff pastry from scratch and in turned out beautifully! I still hold that memory in high regard, but I don't know that I'll be doing that again anytime soon. I've never worked so hard for a recipe in my life! My arms still hurt from rolling that cold dough! Shortly after my husband and I first met, we had a few friends over from his office for supper. I made a chocolate mouse recipe from an old Julia Child cook book and misread the amount of sugar it required. Lets just say I'm glad they all had good dental plans after that. I have a real sweet tooth, and I could not get it down. But when I think back on their facial expressions when they first tasted this "cavities in a cup" dessert it was worth it!...oh...if I only had a camera!