Im 18 years old, who grew up with a gourmet chef as a mother. Unfortunately I cared less about cooking, until I moved out at 17 across the country for a guy. I learned quickly that if I didnt cook we would be eating hot pockets and frozen pizzas every night for dinner. So I started cooking, and realized I had a real interest and a real knack for it. I've cooked every night since and have had rave reviews for whoever I have cooked for. Plus my mother has given me great approval. My boyfriend got a slow cooker from his mother for christmas which I still sort of laugh about to this day, but the cooker quickly became mine. I didnt use it for a couple months but now its out atleast once a week. I love making stews and different soups. I also LOVE to try and figure out great recipes made for incredibly cheap. I seem to have a knack for that also. I guess my cooking tradition would just be cooking period. My grandmother was a chef and was the first person to teach me some recipes. I make the best eggs ever if i do say so myself. My mother was a gourmet chef who worked for a 5 star restaraunt and owned her own restaraunt. Now im cooking and my mother and grandmother are more proud then when i graduated high school a year and a half early. It's nice though because I've realized I love cooking. I havent had many triumphs per say but I will say, when i first started cooking I came across to recipes that will forever be in my recipe box. I made a Black bean Tortilla soup with a hint of lime, and a couple days later made a Pork Roast with cranberry, dijon, and brown sugar. I haven't had any real food tragedies. I will say the real tradegy is the amount of burns and cuts I've come up with. My boyfriend says he needs to stop leaving me alone in the kitchen. I believe the all my burns and cuts were from the love I was putting into my food. :)