Hi. My name is Kim. I am excited about being a part of AllRecipes, and looking forward to trying new dishes and sharing some of my own. I have been cooking since I was 11, as I was the only female in the household at that time. My mother decided not to take on the role as wife and mother when I was 5. This left me having to come up with ways to feed my father and 2 younger brothers. Some of my fondest memories are of being in, not only my own kitchen, but in the kitchen of several wonderful cooks. I have to give my ex mother-in-law credit for a lot of what I know about cooking. She loved sharing her knowledge with me. She is no longer living, but I'm certain she is feasting on something divine today. I don't have the time I'd love to have in the kitchen these days. Working a full time job, and helping my 2 daughters with my 5 grandchildren, leaves me looking for ideas that are simple. I am finding that you can have the simple and not lose the flavor. My family loves my c The fewer the ingredients and the less expensive the dish the better. Some of my favorite things to cook, when I have some free time, are my own special chili, ham & bean soup, a chicken & rice dish, potato salad, and a blueberry salad. These dishes are a few of my family's favorites. I will be sharing them with you in the future. Thanksgiving and Christmas make for wonderful family time in the kitchen. Great conversation and lot's of hands on takes place. We are always coming up with ways to use the leftovers. On Christmas Eve, we prepare & eat party foods, sit by the fire with eggnog, and read the Christmas story from the Bible. A triumph in the kitchen to me is when someone merely says, "uumm, this tastes great! The only tragedy that comes to mind is scorching beans when my girls were young. I had to throw out the beans and the pot.