I'm a Navy wife, mother of three children and counting, who has accomplished a lot in her life with 2 Masters degrees. I love love love to cook and as with most cooks, my passion in the kitchen came from watching my grandmother,mother, and mother-in-law throw down. These three ladies in my life could go to a restaurant, taste the ingredients, go home and make it just like the restaurant version if not better. With my two girls I'm I'm loving each moment that they ask to join me in the kitchen. Hopefully, when they get old enough they will tell their children and friends that I too was an inspiration to them as they fill their bellies with L-O-V-E. I love to dibble and dabble in different cultures; everything from German to Mediterranean. I'm what you call a food opportunist, if it can be eaten, I'll give it a try. Since my family is spread throughout the US we really don't have a cooking tradition. Yet my favorite cooking tradition is when my family and I go to visit my in-laws. When we all get together it is a sight to behold as all the women gather in the kitchen to share stories and love of food. However, my husband and I are starting a tradition with our three children to always eat together especially on Sunday's unless he's deployed...And hopefully when our children are older they will continue to come home for Sunday dinner's (leaving the stresses of life behind to be thought of the next day). Getting compliments by my husband and children are my greatest cooking triumphs. I love hearing him tell me not to tell his mom or grandmother that my cooking now (after many trials and errors) is better than theirs or just as equal. So I look forward to those compliments and seeing a smile on their face. When I was around 10 years old I was trying to follow an infomercial product. However, I didn't have that product and figured the microwave would work the same when cooking an egg. Needless, to say I blew up the egg and blew a fuse in the microwave. My parents weren't happy that I tried to hid it but found it hilarious.