I grew up cooking. My parents were excellent cooks and my grandparents were even better. As a child, one of my favorite things to do was to create my own recipes. I thought I was a genius when I made a delicious drink made from eggs, milk, cream, cinnamon and nutmeg. I was completely bummed to fin out that my special drink already had a name--eggnog! CAKE CAKES CAKES. Also cookies, brownies and Christmas treats. I am always experimenting with different ways to prepare chicken and lean beef, as I am trying to eat more healthy foods. My family still gathers from my grandpa's cabbage rolls or cornbread. My mother's meatloaf is so simple, but the best I have EVER had. Everyone requests it for holidays and carry-ins. Learning to make these family meals has been some of my favorite family memories. I've made lots of special occasion cakes, but the most challenging (and rewarding) was my best friend's wedding cake. It was classic yellow sponge cake with italian meringue buttercream. Each layer had a different filling: strawberries and cream, orange curd, lemon curd, and vanilla cream. It was decorated in edible pearls and fresh pink calla lillies. When we wre younger, my cousin, Debbie, and I decided to make a St. Patrick's Day cake as a surprise for our parents. In the middle of beating the VERY green icing, one of us lifted the mixer and green icing flew EVERYWHERE. We were finding specks of green all over the kitchen for weeks!