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Octopus on a stick during new year's holidays in Tokyo.

Cooking is fun, and it is a great adventure to try new things.
I love having inexpensive but delicious wine from my own wine rack. If you are having people over for dinner, you can actually hear the conversation; not always possible in a noisy crowded restaurant. OR I can wear pajamas, listen to my favorite music, doing everything in my own time frame. I started cooking at home to save money, but ended enjoying myself so much more than going out.

Mexican wedding cookies!

I have been cooking with fennel lately, so I am definitely going to try the Food and Wine baked fennel recipe.

We had the Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book growing. Plus a binder with tons of 3x5 cards neatly written by my mother and grandmother. My favorite was cooking from recipes on my mom's index cards.