I grew up with just my father and brother having lost my mother at a young age. As a result I always viewed cooking as a chore along with laundry etc. LAter, on my own, why cook when I live in a city that can bring any type of cuisine to your front door......Now older and married I find cooking relaxing and fun. I am now the house where every holiday etc is held! I love the Slow Cooker! As a full time mom witj a full time job also, it is wonderful to come home to smell dinner almost done. Also love experimenting with new salads and grill ideas to cook on our boat in the summer! The only cooking traditions I can remember are a few dishes of my mothers that I tried to recreate to the best of my ability. Other than that my influencs are kinda southern yankee........ Many I am happy to say - the more I cook the more I get confident in my own instincts for additions and replacements. Also very good at creating things out of what is on hand - one of my fave souups - Italian Sausage Soup was made of what veggies I had on hand Also many..there is the Thanksgiving I set the oven on fire but saed the turkey...then when I was 10, of course mistaking the 2 cup capacity measuring cup as ONE cup resulting in double sugar in a recipe that didnt do well..........