One year ago (2009) I stumbled upon allrecipes when I was looking for a carrot cake recipe. I have been hooked ever since. This collection of recipes, tips, and reviews has pushed my cooking ability to the next level. I am constantly trying new recipes and continually expanding my recipe box from good to great. I have a Bachelor's degree in Biology, the most beautiful 2 year old daughter, and a passion for allrecipes.com I am an avid baker and we always have something sweet to eat at our house! Trying new recipes has become a hobby of mine. I love exploring new combinations of ingredients and those fancy foods I thought I would never taste, let alone cook. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for good reason--the food! I love being one of the few people I know that can cook just about anything from scratch. My grandma made breads, my dad makes candy, my mom makes meats, and I've learned to make just about everything. I think some of the greatest complements a chef or cook can get is a simple thank you, finishing a plate, asking for your recipe, or in my father-in-laws case, trying something he absolutely hated...just because i made it. I needed a cup of self-rising flour for a recipe and looked up the ratios. My instinct was telling me that 1 tsp was too much, but i figured these people knew what they were talking about. When that fresh, warm bread came out of the over, my husband and i couldn't wait to taste it. I sliced it, coated it in butter, and had the great salt lake in my mouth.