Recently retired hospital social worker, finally have time to cook. Nice husband, 4 grown sons, 2 daughters in law, 5 grandchildren. Have prepared a lot of good meals, but have also had many calamities in the kitchen! Desserts, especially cookies and cakes, are my favorites. I'd like to learn to cook a larger variety of main dishes, and add some more "tried & true" casserole recipes to my list of frequently prepared meals. Baking with my grandchildren, as my grandmother and my mother did. I always make my husband an angelfood cake for his birthday, and present it on his mother's cake plate. She was an expert baker. I always use old family cookie recipes at Christmas, and make a Bunny Cake at Easter. I love recipes that remind me of our family history. Not sure anything would qualify as a "triumph!" However, my husband is healthy, and my children survived to adulthood, so I guess I've been a decent cook. I make a lot of good desserts, but not pies. Where do I start? I've had more than my share of turkeys that were still raw, when the rest of my holiday meal was ready to serve. I've made a lot of inedible casseroles, which my husband has heroically choked down. My pies usually are disasters. I'm always trying new recipes, looking for "keepers!"