My name is Mandi, and I am a 28 year old mom of 3, ages 6, 3 and 2. I started cooking after seeing Rachael Ray on Food Network, and she inspired me that ANYONE can cook, and it doesn't have to take a rocket scientist to make gourmet meals. My favorite chefs are Bobby Flay, Rachael Ray, and Mario Batali. Anything Rachael Ray has to offer. I have to say burgers, chicken and shrimp dishes. Oh, and who doesn't like cooking desserts? I really don't know a lot of my family's cooking tradition. I did a lot of eating out when I was a child. The ability to look at bare 'bachelor' cupboards and make something awesome. Probably in my premature cooking days, when I burnt top ramen. That was not cool.