i came from a small farming town and we as a family had to make thing go along way. i remember my mom making things stretch. when i had my kids i had to do the same. but i have always loved to be in the kitchen and experiment. i really don't have 1 favorite as i like to play with spices, baking technics, ect. and now i am married to an italian. and if i might say the first time i made homemade lasagna for him he said it was so close to his moms he could not believe it. we guess what i guess it was good enough that we have been together for over 15 yrs now. all the holidays i get to make appitizers, desserts, cookies,ect and every one looks for something new every year. and durring the year my step daughter calls and we cook together over the phone she lives 150 miles away people say we are crazy but if you can't help your kids and give them traditions then what do you do. oh yea we all meet at my parents house for a big feast winning the approval of my family trying the new recipes my family not liking something i made but that is far in between