I am married, have 2 daughters from first marriage, 1 step-daughter from 2nd marriage(20 yrs!). Animal issues, the environment, and many other causes are a passion of mine. I recycle when possible and am learning about "greening" my environment. Animals! I love'em! That being said, I have 4 kitties, 2 dogs. All were inherited from my 2 girls, but I still love them all. My Mama's spaghetti sauce, potato gnocchi, a nice steak, chili, any veg dish, pork loin roast, and many more to list. Every holiday season, my Dad would cook his special drinking custard and make his cooked coleslaw dressing. Yum! His custard was far superior to the eggnog you buy at the grocers. My Mama would dig out the good linens, silver, dishes and have me iron, polish and wipe down. Then I would set the table, in the formal way of course. At the time I felt like it was a punishment, but now I wish I were 8 all over again for just one Thanksgiving or Christmas. The table and the smell of the food and the long gone family members. What memories! My biggest triumph was when I finally mastered my Mother's spaghetti sauce. Now that she is gone, every time I taste it, it brings back a flood of great memories. My first meal for guests. When I was a newlywed I invited over several good friends to show off my cooking talents. I had planned to roast chicken breasts, and have french cut green beans. Sounds good, but it wasn't. I tried baking the chicken frozen, and undercooked the beans (how can you do that?)The chicken was black on the outside and still frozen in the center! The beans had no flavor and was like eating straw. Needless to say, I was horribly embarrassed and was in tears. Luckily, the visitors were amused (they were older than us) yet forgiving. Burger King was busy that night!