I started cooking when I was looking on Betty Crocker's website and saw all of the delicious recipes on there. Since I love to eat, I just couldn't pass them up! I offered to cook a meal a week for mom and have been doing so ever since. I've really broadened my horizons, especially lately by baking my own bread, trying foods from other cultures and regions, trying new techniques, and looking on various website for new recipes. I love baking, whether it's something sweet or something hearty, like bread. Desserts have to be the best, because you can make them look so beautiful and they can taste absolutely divine. I'm not sure if you would call it tradition, but I love enjoying my mom's cooking with my family. They're recipes we've been having since we were kids, and they really make you feel at home. There's no comfort food like a piece of mom's slow-cooked meatloaf or a bowl of her hearty chili! My cooking triumphs include making a four layer chocolate cake for my sister's birthday, complete with chocolate custard filling and whipped cream frosting, and baking my own breads. Those were signs that I was becoming a more serious and experienced cook and that it was OK to try new things, even if it seemed overwhelming. I haven't had many, although there are those recipes out there that just aren't meant to be tried. The tragedies I remember most happened years ago when I was having a sleep over with my cousin. We decided to make mac & cheese for supper. Everything was going swimmingly until I poured the noodles into the boiling water and left the burner on high. Soon the water was boiling over the sides of the pot and mom was rushing into the kitchen to see what was wrong. I was traumatized for life! At that same sleepover, we decided to make French Toast. I misread the instructions and soaked a piece of bread in the egg mixture for 3 minutes. Talk about soggy!