As the daughter of an avid homecook, and granddaughter of a gourmet chef, I have been in the kitchen since I could stand on a stool and hold a utensil at the same time. Even though things can get hectic, I believe it is important to put a healthy, yummy meal on the table at the end of every day. Anything that makes my family and friends ask for seconds or the recipe! Not so much a single tradition, but any time my parents or grandparents shared any cooking advice or wisdom. The ability to feed and satisfy an extremely picky man on a daily basis! My very first traditional New York style cheesecake at the age of 19! Following every instruction, I'm still not sure how it was burned and runny at the same time! However, the second one (and every one since) was fabulous. The recipe is always a hit!