I have been baking since my first Home-Ec class in 7th grade and started cooking when I moved out of my mom's place. People seem to enjoy my cooking and love my desserts. I always attempt new recipes but I do have some favourites that I regularly make. I'm first and foremost a baker. I love making desserts (cookies, cakes and crumbles) and I usually bring them to work or at dinner parties so I don't eat it all. I enjoy cooking and my favourite recipes usually include cheese. My favourite family cooking traditions are at Christmas. I do lots of baking at this time of year and I LOVE it. There are lots of family parties with lots of food. Sure you gain a few pounds but it's all soooo good. I believe that any cooking triumphs should include "a mistake made in the recipe but it turned out great". I have messed up recipes and/or gave them my little additions and they almost always turned out pretty good. Substitutions are easier for cooking than baking and that's why I'm starting to appreciate cooking more and more. There has been a few cooking tragedies but the one that comes to mind is the first time I used a pressure cooker. I had no idea how to use this thing. In short, when the water was ready and I tried taking off the top, it flew off and up in the air. The boiling water burnt my arm and neck a little. Although slightly scary when it happened, it could have been worst. Regardless, that was my first and last time using a pressure cooker.