I love to cook and have often thought I should have gone to culinary school. My biggest cooking influence is my mother she is really a good cook, but I look up to my brother who has never used a recipe in his life....he cooks by taste; a little of this and that and it is always amazing. I cook almost every night for my family. My true passion is entertaining. I secretly want to be Martha Stewart...he he!! I like good soup and hearty meals. I also love to come across a good apetizer recipe. I recently purchased a bread machine and have really enjoyed using it. I'm not baking so much now that my daughter is doing a lot of it around here. Baklava every Christmas. It looks like you spent all day in the kitchen, but it is a snap! My dad made stuffing every holiday. It is still the best I have ever tasted with apples and raisons. YUMMY! I will try anything, once! I made that italian dish they always talk about on Everybody Loves Raymond. It was time consuming, but interesting to make. I always say if you can follow a recipe you can be a good cook. Teaching my daughter the love of cooking and baking. When I'm out of town she actually gets a hot meal on the table and can even make home made bread. I'm so proud of her. She will be making all the pies for Thanksgiving dinner this year. The biggest one is a recipe for brussel sprouts that you steamed than cooked in a jelly of some sort. I didn't think I was steaming them long enough. They were raw! Very dissapointing side dish to a Thanksgiving meal!