I am an academic with a PhD from the University of South Australia in Adelaide. I am a Canadian citizen, I moved to Australia to do my PhD in June of 2001 and then to New Zealand in December of 2005. I started my family young (at 19) and have four children and three step children. I LOVE where I live in NZ and while I miss my family in Canada I'll continue to live in NZ and eventually Australia again. I love to bake and I'm truly 'addicted' to my crockpot. Its winter in New Zealand at the moments so the crockpot is *really* important My mum is a fantastic cook and baker. She used to 'rotate' her menu like many cooks did in the 60's and 70's She had a basic two week menu that she worked from and she rotated our meals that way. Made shopping easier and a kids we never really noticed. I don't cook that way, I tend to follow the dictates of my stomach on the day :) or the kids suggestions!! Steak and kidney pie, banana bread, cookies, seafood chowder, crockpot meals, liver and onion...and I'm learning to cook Polish food as my husband is of Polish heritage. Born in NZ Polish is still his first langauge...best compliment from my husband is when he says something tastes like his Mum's :) the time I put tomato sauce on fish and baked it in the oven and it came out smelling exactly like POOP! My kids still laugh about it!