Anyone who knows me well can tell you the two things in life that I love the most: my family and cooking! I am 28 years old and live right outside of D.C. I am married to a wonderful man who I have had the pleasure of spending the past 7 years with. And not to mention, an unbelievable daddy. My beautiful, smart and sassy little girl is almost 18 months. She is the light of my life! As a wife to a police officer with crazy hours and a mom to a curious toddler, it is difficult to find time for myself. A lot of people find cooking to be just another daily chore, but to me, it is a place where i can be alone with my thoughts. I enjoy planning out my weekly meals and looking online for quick and delicious recipes for a toddler who loves to try new things. But as a mom I know that a toddler's mind is always changing... and so are her tastebuds!

Cooking has always been a part of my life. I come from a family of seasoned cooks. My mom is a fantastic cook who is never afraid to try new dishes. She learned to cook from my Grandmother who we adoringly call, Nanny. The matriarch of the family...cooking is just one of the many things she has taught her children and grandchildren. Take Christmas Eve for example. The 7 course food marathon! The entire family is involved with the prep and cooking(withthe exception of my dad who is out running errands). If you know my dad, that will make you laugh a little. Once the food is ready to be served, the family piles in through the front door; aunts, uncles, cousins, and new babies. Our family gatherings and holidays are most often spent talking and laughing around a table filled with unessessary amounts of food!

I imagine this is the reason why family and cooking are my two favorite things in life.