I love to cook, the sights, the sounds, the smells, it's all very intoxicating. Cooking engages all of the senses so when you present a plate it must not only taste good, but also look beautiful! I typically will try out a new recipe on a house full of guests, most of the time feeling pretty confident, but having fleeting moments of nervousness, right before my guests dig in. The best compliment to me comes from my children, "mom, you are the best cook in the world!" Hmmm - so many to choose from... Indian food, beef sate, skirt steak fajitas, Armenian pizza (Lahmajoon), Roasted garlic chicken, Pakhlava My mother was an excellent cook - we never had typical American food in my house because my mom made mostly Armenian food. So we were used to hummus, pita bread, dolma, etc. My paternal grandmother taught me how to make a wonderful meatball soup that I always loved as a child, so now I'm passing that down to my chldren, as well other family recipes. The first time I ever made traditional Armenian dishes that my mother used to cook, was the proudest moment for me. I don't know if I ever had true tragedies, but some dishes have been disappointing, because they didn't meet my expectations.