I never understood why people cooked, when so many out-of-a-box or bag foods were readily available and so easy to make. But after having my first dinner party where I actually made everything from scratch, I realized "Hey, I'm pretty good at this, and it was fun!" I've been making pretty much everything from scratch ever since, and even as a full-time student who works full-time, it's worth it! Pasta and sauces, veggies, and chicken variations. I have a very picky eater for a husband, so I have to play around with the things I know he'll eat, or figure out ways to sneak in things he won't eat. I manage to put cheese in just about everything I make because that's one thing we both love. None yet. I have learned to make things up. It was great when I felt the confidence to just add this, omit that, and stop following directions. It always seems to come out better than following a recipe! I attempted a Thai chicken dish from my Betty Crocker cookbook. It said coconut, so I thought it'd be great. It was so disgusting I thought I was going to vomit after trying just a taste of the sauce from the pan. My husband ate it, but I had to hold my nose while washing the leftovers down the sink. Now I refuse to make anything that's both creamy and spicy - a combination I just really don't like.