Eating was always a beloved pastime of mine (bona fide chocoholic, here). But I must confess: I never sought hands-on experience in the kitchen until recently. The microwave was my best friend, until last fall, when I was fortunate enough to travel throughout Spain, France, Portugal, and Great Britain—essentially eating my way across Europe. When I returned to the states, I made futile attempts to recreate many of the dishes I sampled abroad. I realized that cooking isn’t as easy as the Food Network celebs make it seem! I began to research and experiment with recipes in order to acquire the patience and skill necessary for preparing palatable meals—which leads me here, to Finecooking.com. As the new web intern, I’m looking forward to expanding my culinary knowledge, contributing to the website, and reviewing recipes from esteemed food bloggers!