My mom was a "from scratch" cook - it wasn't until I moved out of the house that I realized that you could actually buy lasagna noodles! Fresh, simple meals were a staple in our house, and I try to carry that forward. I love trying new things, so a new recipe is my favorite thing to cook. My kids have learned to be "adventurous eaters", so I know they'll at least taste everything I try, even if they don't like it much! Just like most families, every holiday seems to have developed its own special food tradition - chili on Halloween, Thanksgiving dinner at the beach, fanciful cakes for birthdays. I've cooked an entire Thanksgiving dinner at the beach, with just a small grill and a two burner camp stove! I was making dinner for some foodie friends once, and they poured me some wine while I was cooking. Bad idea! I was steaming some sweet potatoes and wasn't paying attention - there wasn't enough water and the pan scorched!