When I was about 6 years old my dad was cooking dinner and I tried to snitch a taste of what he was making. He told me if I wasn't the cook, I would have to wait until dinner was served to try it. Well that was an easy decision... challenge accepted!!! I asked if I could help and was obsessed with food and cooking from there forward.

I was very fortunate as a child to have homemade 5-course meals every day. Not because we had a lot of money, but because of our resources. We had a very large garden with every fruit and vegetable imaginable! My grandparents had a farm where animals were raised. My parents utilized local orchards to help minimize the cost.

There was a lot of "work" involved. Work that I loved and enjoyed! I helped preserve HUNDREDS of bottles of fruits, jams, salsa, vegetables and meat as each season permitted. I learned all about gardening and how to grow everything imaginable! I was often told I had a "green thumb."  I learned to make home made breads, noodles, sausage, and a zillion different deserts. I thought making a 3 tiered cake for my birthday was normal. 

Fast forward to adulthood—I have had a garden every year but one. I still bottle fruits and vegetables seasonally, but I moderate the amount based on my needs. I grow my own herbs and bring them inside for the winter to use. I cook 2-course meals almost daily and save the 5-course meals for special events. I try to eat gluten-free and avoid breads and sweets. I eat meat sparingly. While cooking, I have 4 kitties by my side and 2 dogs observing by my feet. We are all waiting to see what creation I come up with!