I haven't always enjoyed cooking, but being around my friends who are great imaginative cooks, rubbed off. Now I look forward to trying something new every week, I even look forward to the planning and shopping part! My favorites are Italian and Southern style cooking. My Dad was the cook in our family, he did the grocery shopping and would fix a huge Sunday dinner for all 7 of us girls. As adults, we would still come to the house on Sundays for the best meal we had had all week! My father would make his German Chocolate cake at Christmas, and my mother would do this killer rice dressing that no one has been able to duplicate. Stuffed French toast, and finally learning how to fry chicken the correct way! Also, being able to pull something together out of what's on hand now. Don't ask! I am old enough to have had PLENTY! And I try not to think about them! My cooking tragedies usually involve not leaving well-enough alone!