I am originally from Napa, California but have lived in the central valley for the past 12 years. I love cooking, and if I had my choice, would do it full time. Too bad it doesn't pay the same as my job starting out!! My dream is to someday open a resturant with my family and have that be our living and hobby. I love to cook light and healthy gourmet meals. Cooking light magazine is my alternative to this website and you can't imagine how happy I was when they started the cooking light 5 star recipes!! Totally love it! We are starting some in my family now. My family never cooked together so I don't have any to pass down. But at this point I am teaching all I know to my daughters and trying to get them to start some traditions with me. I am learning to improvise more and more. I am learning flavors and herbs and experimenting more. I have had a couple of mishaps with flavors that just didn't mix welll.....