I am in my 50's, married with 2 grown children, 2 grandsons, and a granddaughter. I started cooking as a grill cook at the age of 16. I have been a prep cook and currently I am the manager of a deli/bakery at our small town grocery store. I love cooking for my family and friends and enjoy making up thier plates and serving them. I adore hearty appetites! We love good food! I enjoy trying all sorts of new recipes (which is why "ALLRECIPES" is my favorite site on the web). It is exciting for me to try something new and have it turn into a family favorite! I make a great traditional lasagna using ground beef, Italian link sausage (cut into small chunks), four cheeses and homemade red suace. I always have to make 5 or 6 pans and pass them around to my kids, siblings, parents, and whomever else I want to treat at the time. Half of my family works at the same grocery with me, so whenever they see me buying the ingredients to make it they ask to be put on the list:) My dad is from Texas and as the next to the youngest son of a family of 9 he was designated the cook when my grandmother passed away. The older boys went to work with their dad and the girls watched after the younger children. I grew up eating alot of fresh baked bread and good mexican food as a result. As my dad also had alot of hard, hungry days during his boyhood..our house always had a well stocked pantry and freezer. My mother grew up in the same town we now live in and is also a great cook. While dad worked she was a stay at home mother (the norm back then) who baked us goodies for after school and made great meals for her family. Our family get-togethers always revolve around alot of food. Canning our fresh veggies for winter is my most rewarding triumph! .....But I have cooking triumphs every time someone tells me how good tasting something I've made is. Nothing gives me more pleasure than hearing alot of "ums" while people are eating and hardly any talk! Just last night a couple of our bachelor friends stopped over and I heated up our leftover Hasenpfeffer (rabbit stew) found on ALLRECIPES for them. They never said a word until it was all gone and then they raved on how great it was. They are going hunting this week and bringing over their rabbits so that I can make it again!! My husband is my greatest fan and most nights he tells me "that was a great supper!!!" And I tell him, "thats why I do it". At the tender age of 11 I made potato salad for my family. I presented it with pride to my father who ate a goodly portion of it and raved on how good it was. Later, I found out that you are supposed to "cook" the potatoes!!!