Hi Y'All!

I will tell everyone a little about myself, as I would like to become an integral part of this forum because it seems fascinating! I've lived in Oklahoma most of my life, but have done my fair share of world travel. Although I fought from becoming part of the surrounding "Southern" culture for all of these years, I finally decided to embrace it. Southern cooking may not be the healthiest, but it sure is delicious. I finally have started cooking just about everything with bacon or bacon grease. I'm also a cake decorator and sugar artist. I took a class by Keith B. Ryder (fantastic)! I'm not a professional, by any means, but it sure is fun! My father bribed me into joining the Army straight out of HS, in order to pay for my college education. So, I forwent my life-long dream to become a Master Chef (yes, I dream big). Turns out I hate any work I could use my degree for. So, now that I qualify for the 9-11 GI Bill (even though I'm out of the Army), I'm going to use it to go to culinary school. I decided I was finally going to do it, after watching Top Chef Masters and almost shedding a tear, because I realized how much I REALLY want to become a chef. Anyway, Anthony Bourdain is my hero. I have worked in restaurants as a line cook and pastry chef assistant. And, being in the Army, I'm sure you have assumed that I already have the chef mentality (not to mention the chef mouth). LOL. I look forward to meeting some interesting and informative people on here! :beer: