I began cooking when I noticed my boyfriend ate , processed food all the time. A typical meal was Mama Celeste and a coke. All I really could do at the time is heat up premade dishes from Trader Joe's. So I made a deal, if he split the cost of food, I would make the meals. So night after night, recipe after recipe I began to learn the basics. There were many not so great meals (some which we both refused to eat and ordered take out instead) but little by little I found a new passion. Years later, we are no longer together, but I learned something new about myself and am proud how far I've come and keep going with my cooking. Now my recipe box at home is full, many with notes I've written as I learn to tweak my meals. It's so much fun! I LOVE to bake! Muffins, cookies, cakes what have you! Christmas is my favorite because I make several types of cookies and give out plates instead of gifts. As far as cooking, I love cooking a little bit of everything. When I get hooked on something I usually make it regularly for a while before I move on to something else. Right now it's a great Mahi Mahi dish and also a mediterranean ground turkey dish I serve in pita bread. I've finally gotten to a point where I don't always have to rely on my recipes and can just throw dishes together! My Italian grandmother makes the best food! If I get to be as good cook as she, I will be forever grateful. I once made chicken schnitzel with chicken tenders and burned it. I got so frustrated that I had to start over, I immediately turned on the water and garbage disposal and put 9 pieces of tenders in the sink because I didn't want the trash to stink. It took me the entire weekend with cut up hands, taking apart the plumbing, several trips to home depot and finally my boyfriend and I unclogged the sink after using a supercharged plunger thing that uses CO2 cartridges. Needless to say, I don't put things down the disposal anymore!