Some of my most successful dishes have been ones where I've taken a basic recipe and added to it. I cook like my mom, no measuring, so it's a challenge to sometimes pass recipes on...There are times I DO NOT feel like cooking, and other times when I'll make a feast and have to have people come over in order to make a dent. Thai food, food with complex flavors Seasoning the cooking oil with garlic- everything tastes better with garlic. My mom makes the best savory sticky rice and Chinese tamales...yummmm My Chinese Chicken salad based on my mom's recipe but added to, my artichoke dip (addictive), my baked brie a Christmas Persimmon pudding that stayed wet and mushy- a smoked thanksgiving turkey that we ended up having for dessert