@cookin Carol
I am a wife and mother who grew up in the midwest. I come from a family who enjoys cooking and I spent a lot of time helping my mom in the kitchen. I was a picky eater as a child, but once I hit the "hollow leg days" of adolescence I learned to enjoy trying new foods and cuisines. I have a degree in dietetics and have worked in hospitals, dialysis units, and nursing homes helping clients to improve their nutritional status and learn to make better food choices. I also like to garden, read novels, travel, and sing. I enjoy genealogy, but have come to the conclusion that it needs to be a hobby I return to once I retire since it is so time consuming! Mark Bittman's HOW TO COOK EVERYTHING is my current favorite modern cookbook, and I turn to my 1976 Betty Crocker Cookbook for old standbys.