Leah Hughes’ mother taught her to cook, and the two share a special tradition—making flaming garlic toast. “We get caught up in finishing the meal and forget the bread in the broiler,” Leah explains. “We always keep fire extinguishers close to the oven.”

Although burning bread is a customary disaster, Leah is better known for her culinary triumphs. “When I’m in the kitchen, it’s like being in the laboratory,” she says. “Every time I cook is an opportunity for me to invent something new.” One such invention was the highly successful Lemon-Orange Cheesecake with Citrus Sauce, which was originally featured in the April/May 2003 issue and republished in the April/May 2008 issue. “I have a yard full of lemon and orange trees, so finding creative ways to use them was almost required,” Leah says.

Although a talented chef, Leah doesn’t cook for living. Instead, she installs high-speed DSL computer lines. “Most of my clients will tell me they expected a man,” she says. She likes her job because it provides freedom, fresh air and chances to meet new people. “Plus, I get to play with some really cool toys (I mean tools).”

Leah says her greatest accomplishment was finding a loving husband. Together they enjoy sport fishing, lobster diving and riding Harley motorcycles. Her second greatest accomplishment was finding an enjoyable job, she says, adding, “Third would be that once I didn’t burn the bread.”