I am a thirty something - scratch that - time flies! - a forty something who loves to play with her food. My mother is from central america and I learned how to cook from her. That means nearly everything starts with a sofrito and usually contains tomatoes in some way, shape, or form. I love to cook pretty much anything ethnic. I can tend to go off an a rampaging tangent, especially when I start experimenting and want to compare recipes. I want to cook nothing but lentil dishes one week and nothing but German dishes the next. One day I will have dinner at an Indian restaurant and then what do you know...it's nothing but curried stuff for a while. Baking Christmas cookies for the holidays. When I was a kid, my grandmother cranked out hundreds of cookies to distribute in decorative tins every year. They were expected by friends and family. Although my output can in no way match hers, I do my best. I do have her recipes, but sadly, I cannot do them justice. I have tried, but they never come out tasting like hers. Feeling confident enough to tackle pretty much anything. I used to be shy about trying to make things that I had zero experience with...well...where am I supposed to get that experience?? But I have gotten to the point where I figure, "Why not?". If it flops, then just throw it away or give it to the dogs. Live and learn. Carpe diem. All that inspirational type stuff... Yeast breads. One day I will conquer them! But at the moment, my bread machine will do. One year I decided to try King Cake...yikes! It was a lead brick! But if at first you don't succeed...try, try again! I plan on trying another one this year. I refuse to give up!