Announcing Real Women of Philadelphia finalist, Annette Gladys! This wife, part time real estate agent and mother of two is preparing for an empty nest pretty soon, so she's keeping busy with her favorite pastime - cooking! Annette is so Real, we felt like she was already our best friend! Her recipe for Philly Stuffed Mushrooms looked so delicious - it had us drooling!

We got to know a bit more about Annette!

1. Who do you most often cook for at home?

My husband, son and daughter (when she is home from college).We all seem to be going in different directions every day, so at night when we all get home, I always want to have a great meal ready to enjoy as a family. It is our time to relax and enjoy each other's company and catch up on each other's day. I have always loved cooking and I always want to give my family a special moment in each day with a great meal. My son is 16 and is in sports at school. When he comes home, he is famished. My husband and daughter are blessed with great metabolisms so they seem to be able to eat almost anything without gaining any weight! Good thing, I cook like Paula Deen, with lots of butter!

2. Describe your biggest kitchen disaster.

When I was first married and living in New Orleans (my husband was playing football for the Saints), I wanted to make a really nice meal for him when he came home. I was going to roast a chicken and have some mashed potatoes with it. I got the chicken all ready and put it in the oven, but I forgot to preheat the oven. I turned it on after I put the chicken in, which later I realized is such a big No-No! Not thinking about timing, I started the potatoes at the same time. I got distracted and the water in the potatoes all boiled out and the potatoes burned to the bottom of the pot! Smoke was everywhere and the smell was the worst, not to mention the impossibility of trying to clean the pot!!! When my husband got home, I was crying, the apartment was filled with smoke and the smoke detector was going off. He was so sweet, he gave me a big bear hug, helped me clean up, and took me out to our favorite pizza place.

3. What are you going to say to Paula Deen when you meet her for the first time?

First, I would thank her for this great opportunity and let her know it means the world to me. I would also tell her how much I admire her for all that she has done in her life. I love all of her recipes and the stories that she shares. They are very much like the comfort foods that I grew up with! Her Lady and Sons coleslaw recipe is the best (Oh, but there are so many, many more delicious recipes, too!)

And here's a bit more about Annette in her own words. She couldn't be a better choice for one of our 16 finalists for Real Women of Philadelphia!

I am a graduate of Penn State University where I met my husband of almost 28 years. We have two great children, Selina and Luke (well, three is you include our Yorkie dog, Buzz). Selina is a junior at Virginia Tech and Luke is a sophomore at his high school and Buzz is always around to talk to. I am a full time mother and in the past two years, a part time Realtor. I have also helped my husband with his company for the last 20 years. I have even driven a 20 foot box truck for him on occasion on I-95, which if you know Washington, DC traffic, was a trip! I love country music and traveling with my family. When we go to new places, food is always at the top of our list to explore! We love to taste new cuisines everywhere we go and that is where I get a lot of my inspiration to create new foods.

Most of my time is spent cooking and baking for my family along with volunteering to host the sports team weekly meals. I love going to my son's football, lacrosse and orchestra events, or visiting my daughter at school and going to her sorority and fashion events. I believe what my mom always believed, if I don't do a good job of raising my children, nothing else in life really matters. Since my children seem to be growing up on me and moving on to new phases in their lives, this opportunity allows me to continue one of the greatest passions in my life and to share it with others!