I was born and raised in a small town on the Alabama Gulf Coast, and there is no place I'd rather be than on the Gulf, or at least in the South! Like many other families, our social gatherings are centered around food, and lots of it! I have been cooking in one form or another since I was tall enough to see over the stove. Aside from cooking, my main hobby is knitting. I LOVE to bake. While I can whip up a dinner that has my fiance purring, my passion is baking and confections in all forms. Fudge, cookies, candies, but most of all CAKES! To me a cake is more than just a sweet desert, it is a creation that you can express yourself through. Again, I'm a Southern girl, so cooking has had a large influence in my life. Additionally, being from the Gulf Coast, seafood is a key player in most dishes. My favorite family traditions are centered around the holidays. We have gumbo with shrimp and crab meat, and oyster and crab meat dressing. Another favorite is my grandfather's baked ham. I don't know how he does it but it's the best ham I've ever tasted! I am most proud of my "Grandma's Thanksgiving cake." I found the recipe in a newspaper in 2003. I have made it every year since then. It is a three-layer pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, pecans, and caramel. I also make a mean spaghetti and meatballs. :-) The worst thing I've ever cooked was my first attempt at slow-cooker chicken. I don't know how I messed it up (I think I overcooked it), but it was awful. I know not to make that again!