Do you really cook like that all the time?

It depends on what you mean by "like that." Remember, over 200 family members contributed these 532 recipes, so there are over 200 ways to approach cooking in this book.

If you mean do I make five-course meals every night, you've got to be kidding!! Since our sons grew up and left home, I have just myself and my husband and two parrots to cook for. My husband is very tolerant of leftovers and easy to feed. When I do prepare something elaborate, I like to double or triple the recipe and freeze. My theory is if you're going to mess up your kitchen and use every pot on the rack, you might as well get more bang for your buck.

Wish I could say I were as diligent about labeling, however. One time my husband called asking what we were having for dinner. I looked at the package I was defrosting and said, "I don't know, but it's beige."

My worst un-labeling nightmare: When my son was in third grade I put in his lunchbox what I thought was a frozen chicken leg, thinking it would defrost by lunchtime and be a nice change for him from a sandwich. When he opened his lunch at noon, guess what it was - raw liver!! (In case you're worried, he's married and a daddy now and seems reasonably well adjusted.)