I live in rural Japan, so I am usually limited to what is available and affordable. On the other hand I have access to many ingredients that are not so common in western cooking. I will add wasabi to almost anything I don't own a dishwasher, so I am usually conscious of how many things I dirty, and if I can get away with just 1 pot or pan, I will. I don't like running to the shop for "a pinch of fresh tarragon," so I leave it out. My cooking is generally dependent on whats already in the cupboards, and whats about to go bad in the fridge. I don't currently own any measuring spoons. I also never follow the recipe. I usually look around online, get a general consensus on the ingredients and proportions, then start to develop my own, and it usually comes together just fine by me. My favorite ingredients are whiskey, beer, and wine, and I manage to sneak them into almost everything i cook, whether called for or not. Meat. BBQ. Mexican, because it is not available anywhere in my area. Pancakes.