Cooking Influences

I grew up in a family with 6 siblings. When I was in junior high school, my mom was working, so when we got home from school, we each had responsibilities. I hated cleaning and so gladly took on cooking for the family each night. My mom would leave a note with some meat and tell me what to make. There was rarely a recipe, just a general explanation of what needed to be done. That began my love for cooking that continues to this day.
I love learning from others-- I love reading cookbooks, like most people read novels.
My mom and grandmother always did a lot of baking, bread, cardamom bread, doughnuts and any variety of cakes and cookies. I love learning new breads.
Since a heart attack in 2008, I have had to change my eating habits, and so now am influenced by American Heart Association cookbooks,and other vegetarian cooks.