My mother taught me how to cook when I was 10 years old and I have been expermenting ever since. I was a mess cook in the US Navy for awhile cooking for e-6 petty officers in the first class mess. The men loved my cooking and I enjoyed cooking for them. I cook everything but realy enjoy grilling and smoking outdoors. Either on a charcoal grill or over a wood fire in a pit I made. Thanksgiving was my personal time to shine. I enjoyed cooking for a group of people, sort of took me back into the Navy. Now I'm older and my kids have gone out west and the family has shrunk so it is not so big anymore. I guess winning three cooking contests would be the bigest triumph. I did write 2 small cookbooks once and sold them through magazines many years ago. Once when our cat jumped into the oven as I was shutting the door was quite a experience to remember.