I'm actually native to CA, thru TX, then Boston. Now in the middle of the country here in Omaha. I have been cooking since I was 6 years old. My father had a cooking show on TV back in the 50's and his father owned a bakery in South Dakota. Seems cooking comes naturally to me. I will try anything once and will cook everything. But I find my favorite thing is baking. That's what I learned when I was little - the Nestle's Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies. I still remember the recipe and know that the recipe on the bag today is not actually the original recipe! Thanksgiving - My father did his best cooking on Thanksgiving. He couldn't taste or smell, but was an amazing cook. I learned how to cook Thanksgiving from him and it was the last time we cooked together before he passed away. For many reasons, if I am able to complete a dish or a meal, it's a triumph. Trying to prepare all the food for my first wedding by myself! It was a small wedding and I just wanted finger food. I was young and hadn't really learned as much as I would have liked. I put eggs on to boil for deviled eggs and my then fiance` wanted me to run an errand with him. I forgot the eggs! By the time we returned all the eggs had exploded all over my kitchen! At the time tragic, but in hindsight it was teribly funny.