Retired artist.
My favorite things to cook
depends on what's available in the market...but my all time favorites are breads and cakes. I am a sucker for a good baking recipe.
My favorite family cooking traditions
PIZZA! the grandkids love to make pizza here from scratch. We made a beautiful braided bread for Thanksgiving. They are very proud of their skills and I am proud of them and their adventurous spirit. They've been baking with me since they're old enough to stand on a stepstool and knead. My sons are partial to my meatballs and sauce...my husband loves just about everything I make, with soups made from baked ham scraps being his favorites.
My cooking triumphs
I guess every "mastered" technique is a triumph and every failure is a step towards success. I would say special occasions and big dinners, where I pull out the stops and prep and cook nonstop for days. I enjoy it, I get testy...but I love it none the less.
My cooking tragedies
I can't think of any. It's too fun to be tragic. (Although I'm sure I've wasted tons of foodstuffs in my career...)