I am an aromatherapist and co-own a Portland business that makes socially conscious, safe, sustainable and natural personal care products under the name "blume". My favorites foods to prepare are pies including the crusts - especially berry pies, whole wheat yogurt pancakes, biscuits and quick cakes. My favorite easy entree is sole roulades stuffed with herbs and goat cheese, and served with a lemon butter sauce. And there is nothing as easy and delicious as a hearty cassoulet of beef bourgignon on a winter evening. During the winter holidays we gather together for what is literaly a Solstice, Chanukah, Christmas celebration and everyone brings their holiday specialty. I always make a variety of cookies and provide home roast turkey breast, thinly sliced and served with cranberry chutney and biscuits. My Mom makes great potato pancakes, Sister makes beautifully frosted chocolate cupcakes, my son makes spanakopita, my daughter makes hummos, my nephew makes deviled eggs,and my sister-in-law makes stollen. The list goes on and on, and it's all made from scratch. Cooking, once one knows the basics and doesn't overcook, is fairly easy. It's baking that is the true chemistry. I develop or modify cake and cooky recipes and when they work I feel triumphant. My latest is a whole wheat triple chocolate pecan zucchini quick cake. Delicious and easy. Trying to make fat free cooky bars that had the texture of erasers, lemon mousse that had zest in it in pieces that were way too big, and a broccoli casserole that turned my husband off broccoli altogether.