I came to cooking relatively late as cooking was my mother's hobby and something she enjoyed. After her death, I realized I had better learn or I would be eating cold cereal and canned beans all the time. Much like her, I enjoy cooking, planning meals, trying new recipes, and reading recipe books. Just reading them. Not necessarily making the recipes. Reading the recipe! I also have all my mother's cookbooks which is a wonderful collection of well used, thoroughly stained, hardworking books! In recent years, I have turned to making soups and stews. I find soups to be delicious, filling, and inexpensive meals. I have long enjoyed making stews whether osso bucco, or a printemps lamb, or chicken pot pie. I believe the secret to a great stew is degreasing or defatting the sauce/gravy as well as making them a day ahead of serving. Thanksgiving will always remain my favorite meal with Christmas as my favorite holiday. Making my first full Thanksgiving meal/turkey without help. A fish soup 25 years ago which was a horror! Inedible. I was put off from making soups for a long time as a result!