I began cooking with my best friend at the age of 10 and I have not stopped since! I have gradually increased the difficulty of the dishes I prepare so that I am comfortable preparing the most difficult of dishes, but I must confess that some of the simplest of things I destroy (like rice)! I am a excellent cook of many items, but I would say that when it comes to desserts, that is where my true talents are. My favorites are my chocolate cake frosted with a mildly sweet white icing drenched with a sinfully rich chocolate ganache, and my killer new york cheesecake. My favorite cooking traditions are the meals I prepare for my family members at my home for get-togethers. Everyone is always pitching in lending a hand with the meal preperation which allows for easy comversation. Another tradition of mine is the annual Christmas baking that I take on. Every year I supply my neighbors with decorated boxes filled with a large cookie assortment and whatever candies I decided to make that year; these are always well received! The more challenging the recipe the better! If I am watching a cooking show and they tell me what they are doing is extremely difficult, I am ready to give it a try just to prove to myself I can do it! My cooking flops have occured most often when I have been distracted by the phone. I have made cookies with too much flour, corn bread without baking powder, and I have burned rice more often than I can count!