I am someone who may appear to be high-maintenance and on-the-go, but in reality, I am totally domestic. Coming from the mountains of Kentucky, I am a 'family first' girl and I love the 'little' things in life, especially cooking and baking. Since cooking has always been an essential part of my family, I have grown to criticize and perfect my dish(es) of choice, just like my mother and father always did growing up. Thanks to them, I will always appreciate cooking for its ability to make a family stronger. Besides whipping up some of my most famous side dishes, I would have to say that homemade breads are my favorite. The natural ingredients give me such a warm feeling of home and the flexibility of the receipes allows me to give that personal touch to make them my own. One of the things to keep in mind if you are cooking for my family, is that if you 'fix it, fix it right'. Knowing this, I must always keep an open mind and be kind to criticism, especially when preparing a family favorite meal. A traditional meal in the household is simple, really; soupbeans, cornbread, fried pork chops, homemade sour kraut with smoked sausage, all with slices of garden fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. My mother was always famous for her German Chocolate Cake, so I knew that I didn't have a chance comparing mine to hers. With practice, however, I finally got the nerve up to make one and take it to a Thanksgiving dinner. I remember holding my breath as she took her first bite. She finally said the words, "It's delicious." And even though I was skeptical, I was ecstatic when I saw her go for seconds! Cooincidentally, my mother always expressed her love for cheesecake, as well as the fact that she couldn't make one. Again, I practiced making the perfect cheesecake, one with a very complex and challenging recipe. From the oven, it appeared to be perfect. When I served it to her, however, the middle was runny and gooey. She humored me anyway by eating the outside. Ya gotta love her!