I became really interested in cooking after working in the cookbooks section of a bookstore. Since then I've enjoyed learning as much as I can about food. I really enjoy collaborating with friends on putting together a great meal. I love to cook fish, especially salmon. I also love to find delicious new ways to prepare super-healthy foods such as greens and whole grains. Occasionally I'll also take on an ambitious dessert recipe. I also like to cook on the grill, even in the winter. There's nothing like a nice grilled turkey on a cold February day! Thanksgiving is a big production in my household. I like to try adventurous things some years (like the year we did authentic Chinese Hot Pot) and basic turkey fixins other years. It's always a great celebration, regardless of what's on the menu. My latest triumph was successfully smoking a pork butt for a July 4th barbecue. It's not hard, but it really takes careful attention to the grill for many hours. The meat came out moist tender and full of flavor. Yum! I learned the hard way about why you only put one cup of hot liquid in a blender when pureeing. My hot veggie soup went flying all over myself and my freshly-painted wall when I filled the blender to the top and turned it on high! By the end I only had half the batch of soup :-(