Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

My first cook book, a gift from my mom, was a tattered, dog eared, with notes included, Betty Crocker. I still have it and treasure it for what it means to me.

Not to brag, but I make the best BBQ baby back ribs you have ever tasted.

I know what tapas are, but I have never had the opportunity to try them (I am not really a country bumkin, I just never lived where the only Latin meals were Mexican)

For our birthday Mom always made a three layer cake: chocolate, strawberry and vanila. I can't remember the frosting but it was probably seven minute frosting.

Pesto made with basil, parsley and chives from my gards. The parmesan cheese is grated fresh and only the best EVOO. I get hungry just writing about it.

My taco experiences span 4 states. California tacos had lots of fresh tomatoes, lettuce and ground beef. Arizona tacos came with a lot of guacamole and beef chunks. New Mexico had tacos that came two ways: hot and hotter. Then their are the Tex-Mex tacos from Texas-as big as the state and really tasty.

Eating a lot more fresh produce is number one on my list. More fish, less red meat (but I won't give up my daily ice cream)

We are very fortunate living in the Pacific Northwest. Seafood is plentiful and we eat it at least twice a week. Favorites are grilled Alaska salmon and shrimp scampi.

A friend was going to enter a desert in a state wide contest and he asked me to be his chief tester (taster?) By the time I had gained about twenty pounds, we decided he should enter his Molten Lava Double Chocolate Cake. He won a scholarship to chef school, so we all came out ahead.

My first loaf of homemade yeast bread was a real disaster. After hours of work I took it out of the oven and dropped it! It cracked the asphalt tile!!! I laugh now thinking about it and have gained a reputation of being a great bread maker.

Tillamok Cheese made in Tillamok Oregon. Great cheese, reasonable price and hard to find.

Cut back on my consumption of sodas and deserts.