I started when I was 12 by peeling potatoes and carrots etc for my mom then worked my way up to being the "sous-chef" of the household. Once I moved out I started to cook on my own and I've found it to be very relaxing and enjoyable. I'm 23 now, a student at Algonquin College and I'm taking some cooking classes as part of the curriculum for my program. Anything spicy or full of flavour.. although I don't get to cook it very often because my hubby is alergic to jalapenos (and is wary of anything else that is spicy.) I'm definetly partial to ham and turkey though, reminds me of the cold winter nights where the whole family is gathered at a table just eating and joking. Anything that is considered to be a large meal. My grandmother used to have a long table with benches that sat close to 12 people and so all of our family getogethers centred around that. Also, a new tradition is when my mom cooks a 'racqulette'. It's bascially where everyone is sitting around the table and is cooking their own food over an electric grill. It makes for great conversation and you can fill up on all your favourites. Being able to cook something and have everyone who tries it, fall in love with it. Also having the opportunity to cook for the college restaurant and to get positive feedback from the customers. When I was a teenager I tried making gingerbread cookies but I didn't watch them so every batch I made turned out to be black on the bottom and once they cooled, as hard as hockey pucks.