As a child and a teenager, I loved to bake and make treats for my family. I was slow to take up other types of cooking but finally became interested in cooking in my late twenties after growing tired of cooking the same old things. I have grown to love experimenting with new recipes and daydream about having a gourmet kitchen. I still love to bake--especially quick breads and cookies. About once a month my mother made these amazing all day multi-course Mexican or Chinese dinners. The extremely limited kitchen and living space in my place has discouraged me from trying that on my own, however. I do follow in my mother's footsteps when it comes to making a zillion different cookies and candies at Christmas time, though. Spaghetti--the only thing I make that is all my own recipe. One of the best things I make. Learning not to overcook everything is a humble but important accomplishment. Why does stuff always wind up on the walls? There was the time I overloaded the blender with hot cream of broccoli soup ingredients, burned my hand and got green stuff all over the newly painted walls and ceiling of my apartment. Or the time I attempted sweedish meatballs. The recipe required mixing something into the meat with a beater. The bowl was not big enough and I got ground meat all over myself, the walls and the rug. The cat enjoyed it though. :-)