I am a born-again Christian, and have been married to my wonderful husband for 10 years now. We have a little 3 yr old girl who is just learning her way around the kitchen. I went from only knowing how to make boxed pasta our first year of marriage (and bringing things like Jello to a pot-luck) to having the most requests for my cooking at church and work. It is an accomplishment I can only give glory to God for. My poor husband ate anything I put in front of him like it was his last meal, and loved it (and me!) through it all! I'll cook and try anything. Almost anything. I won't cook snakes or snails. Weirdly enough, I'd probably eat them from a restaurant. That's because I trust that the chef knows what (s)he's doing! Not so much traditions, but more history, but...Well, my mom came from a country where meat was served only at weddings and Christmas. I am Albanian, and Albania is an under-developed nation where many struggle to provide the basic necessities in life. After coming to the states in '72 and getting married in '73, my mom quickly became a whiz in the kitchen. There wasn't a dish she could merely look at that she didn't herself perfect. I can't say I have inherited this knack for cooking, but the love of good food runs in my blood! If I had more money, I'd choose all high quality ingredients, but that's not always possible. I just want to pass that "tradition" to my daughter...not to be afraid of the kitchen-it's a blessing! The Spinach Quiche, the "World's Best Lasagna," Banana banana bread, Chili I, Green Bean Okazu (simple, but FAB), Mouth-Watering Stuffed Mushrooms, and the Harvest Thyme Rice are all things I make over and over again simply because they are mostly seasonal items that my family (and others) look forward to when that time of year comes. A note ont he Worlds Best Lasagna-I make that whenever anyone has a baby or has been in the hospital and can't cook for a while. It feeds a family of 4 for at least two days. And it's real authentic tasting as the homeamade meat sauce is slow simmered before being layered in the lasagna. Sadly, it was a recipe from this site. Don't try the Mock Tuna Salad. If it isn't tuna...it isn't tuna. That's all I have to say about that.