I think I started cooking about the time I could stand by myself. This is a good thing because at 21 I am completely allergic to milk (lactose as well as the protein) and living this far north (not that were out in the boonies or anything) specialty foods aren't widely available and those that are around are quite expensive, but it is getting better. Soy milk now costs the same as cow milk, but lactose-free margarine is still $5.00 or more for a regular tub (no solid squares which makes baking interesting) and dairy-free chocolate chips cost $5.00 a bag or sometimes up to $7.00. Anything chocolate I can ! :0) I think stir-fries and pitas are my favorite dinners because they are easy, economical, nutritious and leave room for experimentation. I love trying new things or improving on my old favorites. My Grandma and my mother both taught me how to bake any cookie, cake, bread, muffin or dessert under the sun at a young age, much to the demise of my boyfriend's waist line! (I have to hide my own cookies so he doesn't eat them :0) Learning to adapt all my favorite old recipes to fit my dairy free diet and still taste close to the same.(Although I'm still trying to find some good soy mozzarella for lasagna). Making completely dairy-free candies and chocolates for christmas and having nobody complain that they tasted funny! (I don't think anyone could even tell that there was anything different.) My first time making condensed soy milk. Trust me, you don't want to stop stirring it for even a minute!!! It took me 2 hrs of scrubbing to clean my pot and spoon, not to mention the SMELL!