I credit my cooking abilities to my grandmother, my father, and my nana. They taught me to enjoy cooking. My mom taught me the quick and easy stuff! I like to entertain and usually plan big dinners. I enjoy trying new things. Dinner and desserts are my favorites! Slow and soulful! My grandmother used to spend hours in the kitchen preparing things from scratch and she just looked so happy when it came time to chow down! I always wanted to experience that feeling. When I got my first apt, I cooked everything from a box mix, a can, a frozen box, you name it I cooked it! As I got a little older and my dad found out my "quick secret", he said "all the time you spent watching me and your grandma cook, you should be throwing down right now." Well, since then I have never looked back to the box, except for the kids...they cant let go of the shells & cheese! Gravy...this is not one of my better subjects! My dad has tried to teach me this many times growing up and it just never comes out right for me. I gave up a long time ago, pan drippings and/or butter are good enough for me!