I really do love being in the kitchen. I have worked in restaurants both big and small all of my life, so I am no stranger to food. One of the best things about that was coming up with new things to do with different menu items so I wouldn' t get bored.

As my kids get older I love having them cook with me. I also love watching football, playing some Madden with my husband, and as a new dog owner to two pit bull puppies, I now love playing with them. I really love to cook anyghing that I' ve never cooked before. There is something about bringing ingredients together and not knowing how it' s going to turn out that is just awesome to me especially if I' m doing it with my husband. But when it comes to what I know, I love making my chili. It has taken me five long years to perfect that recipe so each step of the way it feels like home.

Growing up the only real family cooking traditions we had was that everybody did it. I am trying to start some of my own family traditions with my kids, but I haven' t quite worked out the details. One tradition that I plan on continuing is one that I am actualling taking from my husband' s grandmother. Every holiday or special occasion that the family gets together she makes these amazing rolls that we all literally fight over and try to hide from everybody else. The last couple of times she has been showing me how to make them ( which is a feat in itself since I don' t bake) and I plan on making the same rolls when I do holidays or special occasions at my home.

One of my biggest triumphs was getting my husband to try new things. When we met he was one of those meat and potatoes guys who not only ate his steak well done, his seasoning didn' t go beyond salt & pepper, his plates were of the blandest I' ve ever seen and if it wasn' t in his comfor zone he wouldn' t even look at. Now after six years of marriage he has not only started eating his steak med- rare, he loves to try new things. It is an ongoing tragedy and it' s name is gravy. I have mastered many things in the kitchen unfortunately the combo of pan drippings, flour and liquid still get the best of me. Although, I have been praised for my chicken flavored paste.