I am a non-working Registered Nurse. I have loved to cook ever since childhood. I love the outdoors and warm weather. Living in Minnesota and being from Wisconsin you would think I would enjoy cold weather and activities associated with, WRONG! I hate the cold and stay indoors almost the entire winter until Spring "breaks." What do you do in the winter? Cook, of course. I love experimenting with new, complicated food dishes and of course I love the taste of my own cooking. I love animals and have a Minature Schnauzer, "Pickles." She is a total joy! I love to make different Italian dishes. I tend to like spice so I am intrigued by India, Mexico, Thai and anything made with a "bite." Being of German descent, I have some favorite all time recipes that were my mom and dad's. Kliska is one of my families favorites. It is potato dumplings that are browned with bacon and pork pieces until the dumplings are crisped on the edges. Along with the pork pieces and bacon you have alot of chopped onion and a pinch of nutmeg; very tasty, but loaded with cholesterol. As aforementioned I love to make Kliska. One of my best friends who is Swedish, makes a similar Klub which is a large potato dumpling filled with diced pork, onion, salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg. She wraps the dumplings which are coated with butter in aluminum foil and then dropped into boiling water for about 30 minutes. Being German, I do like the 'ol standbys of sauerkraut and pork ribs, sauerkraut and weiner's, sauerkraut and whatever. Sauerbraten, red cabbage and potatoes are a nice combination too. I just recently watched a cute "date" movie for about the 15th time with Lauren Hutton called Sweet Treats. She's a chef who combines with the male lead to form a team contesting in a cooking contest. In that movie they make a Torta Barozzi which is a very chocolate, non-flour torte. Was a rather complicated recipe, but I made it and it turned out "wonderful." It is a chocolate lovers dream. I never remember those cooking tragedies. I just never make them again and "move on" to greater things. I will say, I never serve a recipe that I have not made previously! Also when cooking meat, don't over cook and "always" use a meat thermometer!