I am a meeting planner living in a western suburb of Chicago. I'm not a native Chicagoan tho.... I am originally from a small town about 50 miles south of St. Louis, MO. I'm passionate about food - I love to search for new recipes (I rarely ever make the same thing twice), cook and eat my creations! When I'm not in the kitchen, I enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends. I take great pleasure in making memorable meals for the people I care about and hope to someday publish a cookbook for them. There are so many wonderful recipes I've stumbled upon that I'd like to share. Thanks Allrecipes!!! My favs are Mexican, Italian (pastas) and good 'ol comfort food (or what I like to call, home cooking at it's finest!). I'm not a gourmet cook. I prefer to prepare simple, filling dishes and desserts - the typical "family comfort food" that I grew up on. I also tend to enjoy specific cooking styles (i.e. healthy, quick & easy, slow cooking, etc.). Dishes that simplify preparation after a long day's work are my top pics. Hmmm....Other than holiday get-togethers (i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc.), I really don't have any family traditions per se. I do have some of my own traditions though. Holiday cookie baking and making cookies with my nieces when they come to visit my hubs and I are a couple. My most memorable experience was hosting Thanksgiving dinner. It was the FIRST time I ever prepared a turkey or "full-spread" holiday meal and it was my first Thanksgiving in my new house. The sense of accomplishment I felt after the dinner table was finally set (I started setting the table and baking several days beforehand) and knowing that everyone was satisfied and helping themselves to seocnds was a real confidence booster for me. My dad actually mentioned that he should have brought his camera to take pictures of the dishes I made! Hmmm. I seem to have them all the time! Even the best cooks aren't perfect.... I still have not successfully mastered the art of baking (or is it a science???), but I try. Sometimes my baked goods turn out perfectly, but often times they just don't!