I enjoy exchanging recipes with friends because you know they will be good. There's nothing worse than going through a lot of work to make a new dish and to be disappointed by the results. I like to cook tasty dishes that require minimal preparation. Since I have been cooking for over 36 years, I am so over the complicated recipes that require a lot of time. Sometimes simple recipes are the best. I am open to taking up gourmet cooking classes that feature unpretentious cooking methods and ingredients. My family is Mexican-American and we enjoy cooking all of the traditional dishes at special occasions and holidays. At Christmas time, we often have tamale-making parties. I have tweaked some favorite traditional recipes and I get rave reviews from friends and family for my chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, and beans. But I have been adopted other international favorites too. The Swedish Creme Wafers are one of my family's favorite cookies that I bake at the holidays. As a new bride, I tried making homemade tortillas; they came out like frisbees. My poor husband was a guinea pig in those days. I made a lot of cooking mistakes; too much of this, too little of that, and inexperience with timing the completion of meals. My first turkey was dry. Brining and wine, some wine for the cook too, has greatly improved matters. :)