I am from Southern California and I've moved quite often since joining the Marine Corps. I've lived in Arizona, Japan, Northern California and North Carolina. It's interesting to try local foods and I love trying new things. www.youtube.com/tat2dMama68 My favorite foods aren't necessary my favorite things to cook. I like quick and healthy because I work 55-60 hrs a week and being a wife/mom of 2 I have little time to exercise. If I don't mind being in the kitchen all afternoon I'll make a difficult dish that requires devoted time in the kitchen, thre reason I find it difficult is because I try to spend as much time with my family. My mom was never much of a cook although she tried! So I'm learning completely on my own. As long as everyone likes it I consider it a triumph. I grew up on gas stoves, so you can imagine what happened when I was getting use to the electric ones.