I tend to bake more than cook. I love homey recipes and usually volunteer to make pies for family gatherings at the in-laws. My fondest memories are of my mom's baking at the holidays and for special occasions-Swedish Kringle, Cherry Wreath,cookies galore!. My dad was the one that told me "gravy is the easiest thing to make" and was the meat and potatoes/hotdish/chili guy. My brother loves my banana bread (a Betty Croker recipe of all things) and demands it as a down payment when I go visit his family. My first turkey for 12 people when in my first apartment made my dad proud. People I work with love my Confetti Egg Strata "egg bake" (a Pampered Chef recipe). Also, a real baked cheesecake is my major claim to family fame. Having baked cookies gillions of times with my "2nd mom" across the street, I thought I knew enough. The first time on my own, I didn't realize you had to mix things in stages. I put ALL the ingredients in the bowl at once, flour all the way to chocolate chips and mixed. They fried to the pan and I had to add something like 3 cups of flour to make them work...and it did. Hey, I was 12...live and learn. Um, mixing gravy mix and hot water in a closed container makes it hit the ceiling when shaking...3T of cayenne instead of 3t of chili powder for my dad's chili recipe makes for 6 portions of "chili starter"