I'm 23 yrs old and I'm just beginning to dabble in the culinary ARTS, and I've discovered that I absolutely ADORE cooking for people. I'll cook for anyone willing to eat [which is almost everyone I know] and experimenting with all the wordly tastes I've grown up with -- born in Italy, lived in Japan, Korea, and Memphis TN. Mom is Mexican, dad is Hungarian. There's a lot of tips/tricks that I need to learn but I'm on my way -- there seems to be a fire under my butt to cook as much as possible because it's all I do now! ANY dessert [im a baker at heart] and anything that puts a twist on usual tastes. Also, I go thru stints where there's one theme or ingredient I will want to cook in, out, around, and upside down. I was obsessed with artichokes, then chicken, then squash, then berries, etc. Right now I'm all about some soup. The only cooking tradition I can think of is making tamales with all the women of the hispanic side of my family around Christmas time. I really hope to bring this tradition into my future family and create even more. I consider any dish that my loved ones enjoy to be a success. But I always feel accomplished when my dad and boyfriend REALLY enjoy something, as they are the pickest eaters. I burnt milk once -- some instant potatoes called to warm milk on the stove top. I was goofing around with my friend and totally forgot about the milk. Next thing I know the pot is overflowing with milk-fizz and the bottom of the pot is coated in a layer of burnt milk. Ew.