I love to cook but I'm one of those cooks that puts in a little bit of this or that and never writes it down. My family calls it Mom's Surprise when I do this. I make alot more bakery items than I used to and I am trying different recipes. I bake so much sometimes that I have to test it on the neighbors because my family gets sick of me trying the same recipe over and over until I feel it is just right. Cheesecakes are my favorite to make, but it's been pies lately! It's been cold outside so I bake more often. I love our Christmas eve dinner candlelight and crystal. It's a festive time and I can put on a big dinner spread with lots of deserts for my family. I finally figured out what my Great Aunt did to make her chocolate chip cookies fantastic. She would never give up her recipe and it took me quite a while and lots of cookies to figure it out. Dropped a chocolate cake on the kitchen floor....oops....what a mess. Ran to store to buy a desert before guests arrived.