I just moved to California from New York (I miss east coast pizza). I love my family and friends and like to show them by cooking up delicious meals. Any one of my dad's recipes (he's 100% italian). Risotto and pastas with sauces. Any unique way to prep chicken. I love grilling....ANYTHING. Christmas Eve my family does fondue. We deep fry shrimp, chicken, beef and veggies in peanut oil, and my dad makes the best tempura batter and several sauces to go along. Christmas morning my mom makes a bacon cheese and mushroom strata which serves as the "break time" between gift opening. We always cook special birthday dinners (everyone has there favorite meal!) I went to Florence over the summer with two of my closest friends and I had the most amazing smoked cheese and zucchini risotto. When I came back to the states, I recreated it (not quite exact...but so close!). That was pretty triumphant for me...especially since I'm usually a cook by the recipe kind of gal. I have had countless baking disasters. I always burn anything I try to bake from scratch.