I have just finished my 32nd year as a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher. I teach cooking and career planning/independent living to 11th and 12th graders at a local high school. When I'm not in school, I can be found traveling with my husband or playing with our "kids"--an orange striped cat and a black lab mix. I also keep busy reading, shopping, scrapbooking, making cards, and spending time with my wonderful friends. I enjoy all types of cooking and find it very theraputic and relaxing. My favorite food categories would have to be appetizers, salads, and main dishes. While I am very capabale of creating tasty desserts, they are my least favorite to make. When complimented on my foods, I often tell my friends that to be a good cook, one really only needs good recipes. I am grateful to the wonderful cooks who have shared many of their tastiest recipes! My husband and I always host the Christmas Eve dinner for my family. Since I like to try new things the menu changes yearly. I leave the true food traditions to my mother-in-law and sister-in law who always pull together Ukranian feasts for Russina Orthodox holidays. One of my aptitudes is my ability to spot a really good recipe. Because of that, most of what I makes turns out extremely well. My husband is my biggest fan and food critic, but judging from the "yums" I hear when he's eating, I think I'm doing okay! The biggest food compliment he has ever given me was when he said I cook as well or better than both our mothers--and that's saying something!!! In 7th grade an attempt at making grilled cheese sandwiches for a friend turned into a disaster. A hot preheated cast iron skillet, a burned hand and a pan dropped on my mother's newly laid kitchen carpet resulted in my banishment from the kitchen for years. My mother was shocked when I said I wanted to major in Home Economics in college. Her response, "You don't know how to cook!" Where there's a will there's a way! I've been cooking up a storm ever since.