We need to get back to a simpler, non-toxic time and start using products that our parents used 50 years ago.

Think about what you're going to add to the environment and to the air that you breathe before purchasing any product. There are many low-emission products available to buy. You don't want to add problems to your environment when you're redecorating or renovating.

For some people, cooking is not something to do to survive. They like to entertain guests or impress people with their meals. Instead of the daily drudgery, it's a release of creative energy.

I've found I need to be very specific about what type of equipment to use. Also, over the last 10 years, we find that more and more recipes use ingredients that are already partially prepared. Instead of relying on basic ingredients, they use mixes and frozen foods and things like that. Recipes are also using fewer ingredients.

You have some people who have cooked while growing up, but the vast majority didn't participate in cooking at home at all, and they see a need for that in their lives. There are things that traditionally have been handed down through mom teaching daughter, but we're losing a lot of that, so there's a new need to learn basic skills.

At this point in the buying season, parents have only spent $71.96 so far, so there is time for stores to get aggressive and drive more sales,