My earliest memory of the kitchen is breaking beans with Mom when I was about 3. I loved every minute of it! Like every child, I thought that my mom and grandmother were the best cooks.

My grandparents were farmers, and when it was planting or harvest time, neighboring farmers would help each other out and lunch was always provided. I never fully appreciated how much work went into preparing those meals until I was older. Flour sprinkled on the countertop, Grandma's hands delicately & knowingly just how much to knead or dust something. She had measuring cups and spoons, but she rarely used them - saving them for when exact amounts meant the difference between success & failure.

Everything was fresh, too; nothing prepackaged unless it had been canned earlier. Grandma always let me watch even though her kitchen was small; she was a great teacher, very patient. I remember a rather thick pie crust that she helped me with, me thinking the changes were minor. Now I realize it would have been as thick as a slice of bread if she hadn't intervened.

Later, when it was just Mom & I, Mom passed on the same enjoyment of cooking that Grandma had given to her. Saying that my sloppy joes were "the best I've ever tasted" marveling at how great my Cherry cake came out even though it was lopsided, and showing me how to make a killer pot roast...all of these things have helped developed my love of cooking.

What I wanted to do was create a place where cooks of all levels, all walks of life, all ages, could come in and share a recipe or add one of their favorites. Through sharing, we learn about each other, and a small part of us continues on. A friend told me a story about a relative who'd brought a delicious dessert to a gathering and when asked for the recipe, she would repeatedly say "It's a family secret." Well, that recipe never did get passed along, and when she died, so did the recipe.

So pull up a chair. Relax. No outside worries allowed! Browse the site, share recipes, or do both. When you add a recipe, if you would like to do so please tell us a little about it in the section where you write the directions.

Enjoy!

Annie