Reconnecting With An Old Love

I didn't know how to cook when my husband Dave and I married. I was 27 and he didn't have a problem with going out to dinner or picking up take out. I only taught myself how to cook after we moved from the Valley of the Sun to Bellingham,Washington. It was a matter of self preservation. There just weren't enough choices in Bellingham . I found out I enjoyed making dinner for my family. My true passion was making desserts. I made special birthday cakes for all the people I love.

After Dave passed away in 2007 I slipped back into my old habit of take out or eating out. I even stayed away from baking. I rediscovered the joy of baking at my friend Breanna's house a few weeks ago. She invited several friends to celebrate the holiday season by baking at her home. It was a celebration she started to honor her dad, who passed when she was a child. All of the guests were facilitators for Sound Care Kids in Olympia. We had all lost parents when we were kids or young adults.

Yesterday I made a German Chocolate Cake for a Christmas Party and today I created a milk chocolate cake frosted with dark chocolate, almonds and coconut. I'm taking it to Vancouver,B.C. to share with my daughter Tori. We will celebrate life, love and yummy, gooey, fattening desserts.