I've been cooking for myself from a young age. It didn't take me long to start learning to add those extra little touches to my food that made it go from good to great. Improved the family chocolate chip cookie recipe when I was only 12, so much so that my grandma agreed that it was far better. I love cooking complicated things and constantly pushing beyond. There is nothing more I hate than throwing something in the oven. I want to be cooking for hours, we usually don't eat until 9 at night :) I always loved how my grandma would give me the step stool and show me how to make the family recipes. We still to this day don't write them down...it is an oral tradition passed on for generations! The first time i cooked a cheese cake is turned out perfect...I have yet to accomplish it since! I made the worst tasting souffle that I personally feel has every been on this planet! Some day, when the taste leaves my mouth, I will try it again...but that could be years!