I learn't to cook as a child growing up in England by watching and helping my Mum. I was given my first cook book at around 8 years old which really had me hooked and have had a passion for it ever since! I absolutely love variety and trying out new recipes as cooking the same old, gets dull. Being from Europe and spending years travelling throughout I have a great love of Meditteranean cuisine, particularly Greek food. Also growing up in England Indian restaurants are abundant but not too common here in the states, so revisiting this style of cooking is always a treat. I grew up in England where Christmas Pudding is a staple at Christmas. The making of the pudding was very traditional, for example it is good luck to give it a stir and close your eyes and make a wish (we even used to do it at school, with the school Christmas pudding!) We also always used to wrap up a 5 pence piece in silver foil and add it to the pudding, then the person who found it when eating it had good luck (not if they swallowed it though!) I can't remember, but any time I cook anything (from scratch) and it is enjoyed I get a great feeling from it. I don't remember any, but I am an expert at burning things by trying to cook them too quickly!