I have a few favorites that make it to the table often or on holidays, but am ALWAYS reading recipe books or recipes online/in the food section of the newspaper. I find that I read cookbooks like one would read a novel! I like anything unusual or new to our household. Slow cooking is always a favorite, but lately looking more at low calorie reduced fat recipes. Ethnic recipes are also a fun challenge. Fortunately a gourmet grocery near my home carries most of the unusual ingredients needed for these sometimes unique recipes. Pascha, a favorite bread at Easter, and the Slovak, Croatian recipes made at Christmas or other important events during the year. A flourless chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse. A 3-layer coconut cake with a cream cheese/coconut frosting patted down with flaked coconut. Squash pickles, and an Amish Pickle made with whole garlic cloves. A rolled tenderloin of beef stuffed with mustard greens and country ham. One of my first dinner parties, I had 18 cornish game hens I was roasting, and as I was talking in the kitchen (I had an older stove at the time) I leaned against the stove and flicked on the broiler toggle. Needless to say, every game hen breast was burned to a crisp! After carefully removing the burnt BLACK skin from each, a quick gravy saved the dish!