Relying on my up bringing cooking with my mother, I'm married 4 years, loving to cook new and innovative dishes for my husband, exploring ingredients outside my repertoire to bolster my skill in a venue I enjoy . . .the kitchen! My husband always requests "something spicy" . . . I love to try anything with an Asian or southern flair. My roots are Midwestern, down home foods w/ a touch of the Scandinavian. Well, like most blooming cooks I got a great deal of mileage out of my easy bake oven, but then who didn't. :) Other than that, my mother would always let me help her in the kitchen should I ask. Most specifically, I recall baking Spritz cookies (a sugar cookie using a cookie press) at Christmas time with her. Currently mastering the wonders of the convection oven and am learning more about Southern cooking from a friend at work. Hate to admit it, but I cannot follow a recipe to the T, as my own creations are some of my favorites. I am proud that I have no fear when using new and unique spices. Thus, I feel that my sense of adventure in the kitchen is one of my greatest assests. No tragedies to speak of, but am scared to death to bake w/ yeast at the altitude I currently live in.