The newest feature being added to the Mesquite Citizen Journal's outstanding lineup of columns debuts this Friday, Oct. 28.

Susan Lang brings her weekly column, "Mesquito Bites" to the MCJ every Friday. She is known for her interesting recipes and tips for cooking. She has a large collection of recipes to draw from and encourages readers to submit their own.

Born in Washington, D.C., Lang grew up in a suburban Maryland home with her two brothers and a sister.

"My Dad worked every day outside the house. My mother worked every day inside the house, cooking and cleaning," Lang remembered. "She put a balanced meal on the table every night. I learned from her how to do that."

That's where Lang's love for cooking began. She also helped her dad when he took over the kitchen duties on weekends.

Just before her 50th birthday Lang decided to move west to Las Vegas, where she met the love of her life Richard. They were married in 2003.

In 2005, she and Richard moved to Mesquite, where she became an executive assistant at Black Gaming.

"We were tired of the Las Vegas lifestyle, and moved to Mesquite. That turned out to be a great decision," Lang said.

Cooking is still her passion, even after retiring in 2010.

"I don't claim to be a professional chef, but I always gets rave reviews from my friends and family about the food I serve them," Lang pointed out.

Her goal is to share great recipes that are easy to make with ingredients that are available locally.

You'll find "Mesquito Bites" under the Consumer News section of the Mesquite Citizen Journal starting this Friday.

If you'd like to submit your favorite recipes, send them to barbara@mesquitecitizen.com