dave and i have both been in the air force for over 20 years combined. we've been stationed all over the united states, japan, korea, currently england and have done tours in the middle east. our cooking is influenced by the foods we've loved from the places we've lived. everything!!! i like to make dishes that are as aestheticly pleasing as they are delicious! some might think it's wasteful, but if it looks horrible i throw it in the trash. i also try to make everything as low cal, low fat and low sodium as possible without ruining the origional flavor. baking a huge assortment of cookies/candy for christmas; eating sauerkraut and pork on new years; bunny bread and peanutbutter/coconut eggs for easter; homemade hamburgers, potato salad and fruit salad for picnics. and always cooking enough to ensure there are plenty of leftovers for everyone to take with them. besides the satisfaction i get whenever dave asks me to make a specific dish or meal...i won a chile cook-off once. it was the only time i ever entered a cooking contest...i'm actually really timid about entering cooking contests. jumbalaya in a slow cooker...the rice was a horrible texture.