Even though I have been cooking for 20+ years, I consider myself a beginner because only recently have I begun to take an interest in cooking, researching recipes, baking, trying new things, etc. All these years I have mostly cooked using simple side dishes, broiling or baking chicken and beef without any other preparation besides common seasonings. I have suddenly become interested in exploring recipes. Honestly, all these years I was just afraid to try new things! Crazy isn' it? I enjoy cooking for Thanksgiving, baking Christmas cookies, finding new ways with chicken and beef and trying out new desserts. I also want to try more Mexican dishes since Mexican is one of my favorite foods. I am Italian and I do make a good lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs. Finding this website! It is the best cooking website yet! However, one of the better things i tried and was sucessful at was a brisket recipe from Emeril for Passover. I am not Jewish, but my new (married 4 yrs.) husband is and I did not even know what brisket was...it was delicious and everyone ate every bit of it! All the years that I spent cooking very plainly and without passion. Now that I am older and family times have become even more important to me, I find that i totally enjoy cooking for my family even more, and what could be better than the combination of food and family enjoying a meal together?