I'm Brazilian and spent one year in an exchange program in the US. My mom always enjoyed cooking and so did I - but it was just those everyday meals, and I didn't think that was very interesting. So, when I met my American mom, everything changed: it was inspiring watching her try new recipes almost every dinner! I also started to love the "American way of cooking", with influences from all over the world, blended to compose this unique culture! So, since I came back to Brazil, this website has been my communication door with American food... and I'm really thankful for it! Desserts! We're have very eclectic traditions. My early relatives came from different parts of the world (mainly Italy and Syria) and we live in Brazil (which has its own roots), thus making our cooking just one of a kind: lots of spices, various ingredients, condensed milk.... Everytime I cook something new and it comes out great it's a triumph (and of course, hearing lots of "YUMMMY!!" or "You've got to give me this recipe!" is awesome too). Carrot cake. I just can't make one that's good enough!