I love to feed people! I don't care if they are family or complete strangers. I get pleasure out of watching folks eat a hearty meal that I've prepared. I guess that is just the Mom/Grandma in me. I love to cook many kinds of "comfort" foods. There is nothing more inviting than a large pot of spaghetti sauce, chili, or homemade soup simmering on the stove. I love to cook anything Italian and also enjoy cooking Asian foods as well. When I think of family cooking traditions what comes to mind is my mother and her wonderful homemade bread and sticky buns. As a kid walking home from school I could always smell their wonderful fragrance well before getting to the front door. It was a warm feeling to come home to her and a home that smelled of homemade goodies. I've tried to duplicate that in my home as well, but it is near impossible to fill her shoes! I have catered some small parties with very good results and received many compliments. I suppose that would be considered "cooking triumphs". However, anytime I please anyone by cooking for them, whether it is a group or just a single or senior person, I get great satisfaction and consider it a personal triumph. Anytime you cook for your family or anyone else with love is triumphant! When I was a young cook I did a lot of really crazy things. Once when making meatloaf, I lacked onions so I put in garlic as a replacement...lots of garlic!! Whew, was that ever awful! Another time I made fancy baked potatoes and wanted to sprinkle paprika on top, but grabbed cinnamon instead...now that was "different". Over the years I have learned to cook better, and laugh-off my mistakes.