I'm a high school math and biology teacher and the mother of four children...boy 1=25.5, boy 2=almost 23, boy 3 = 21, girl = 18 (driving me nuts). I like to keep busy, am good with my hands, spend tons of time watching movies (hate regular tv programming). I teach in a boys high school and have a way with these young men. My father loved to cook. He worked on the Andrea Doria (on it even when it sank) as a waiter so he was constantly exposed to food and raised me to be open-minded and well mannered. My mother was an artist. Put the two together along with the precision of mathematics and you may find me baking something beautiful and detailed. I think presentation is everything. I'm particularly concerned with being healthy and eating a well-balanced diet. I don't decline sweets however (life is too short). I go to the gym regularly and figure if I'm not sweating there isn't any point to the excercise :) Sweet things are generally my favorite. I also love cooking with cream, butter, lemon, garlic, olive oil, lemon, ginger....the list goes on. Not certain that this qualifies as a tradition but I was always taught to wash the items I use immediately so they are always available for possibly the next step. I know many other people who like to cook that simply toss the dirty stuff in the sink but I think that by the end of it the clean-up is overwhelming. So ... tradition? Tip???? You decide.