Having always loved good food and being raised to try things before deciding I didn't like them, I was never afraid to dive into an unfamiliar recipe and give it a try. As time went on, I began to be able to cook without recipes and my cooking actually improved once my instincts kicked in! As a rule, I can duplicate foods I have in a restaurant and have even found that I can determine spices and herbs within a dish just by taste. I just love food and love to cook!! My favorite things to cook vary by season. As I write this I have been weeks into canning. I am Italian, and my husband is Hispanic. Our holiday meals always include foods from each background, and makes for quite a feast! I think my cooking triumphs come from trusting my instincts and learning to appreciate what herbs and spices compliment what foods. The first time I canned beets, many years ago, they were so beautiful! I gave them to my family and friends in baskets I made up at Christmas which included baked goods and other things I had canned. When the thank you cards and calls came in, everyone raved about the baskets then gently told me that the beets were hard as rocks. I didn't cook them before canning them!!! OOPS!