I'm a graduate student who's been eating mostly local since June 2007- expanding my repertoire from 30 years of choco chip cookies to trying to cook everything ELSE from scratch. I'm also learning how to cook locally available foods like swiss chard and turnips, in season. It's been fun but I still have a lot to learn. Zucchini is number 1 for ease and versatility. I still love chocolate chip cookies too and now I can combine the two ingredients! My mother's apple pies are the best I've ever tasted, and our family's chestnut stuffing is unique and flavorful. Hmm, I've triumphed when I don't ruin the ingredients. My apple-pumpkin muffins were impressive enough to share. These things happen. I just forget them.