I am a retiree after about four careers, including owning/operating a pizzaria way back when. Used to love to camp and travel, but physical problems have slowed that down. Now we rough it in a motel with a pool. We have three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren with another due in a couple of months. Although it is hard to be too gourmet cooking for two, I look forward to potlucks at church and other occasions to show off my skills. Am learning to be a bread baker, but still relapse to using the breadmachine on occasion. Due to dietary problems we are learning to cook healthy with an emphasis on low-carb without too much fat. I am learning things about vegetables I never knew before....like did you know radishes are good fried? Try it, instead of oil, sprinkle salt (Kosher if you have it) on the pan and slice or quarter the radishes, turning till all sides are cooked. Totally changes the taste and texture of them. I am learning new things to do with eggplant. I just received eight good sized ones as an early frost killed the plants. So, for last Sundays potluck I made up a casserole. They are as versatile as zucchini. I do a lot of Italian without much pasta, and we really love Asian stirfried for healthy food. I grew up on a small farm in the midwest and cooking traditions were mostly comfort food. But no one in the family had a knack for desserts, so they were not too plentiful. That is also where I learned some of my tricks with vegetables, for when the garden produces, you cook or pitch. (before freezers and Mom didn't can a lot) Breads and Pastries; cookies of all kinds. They are too many to relate, just be assured I made my share of disasters.