Both my parents are really good cooks and my mom is a semi-professional baker so I was blessed to have that passed down to me. They love to try new things so we had a lot of variety growing up, not just the same old thing. I love trying new recipes and playing around with ingredients. Pretty much anything! I love baking especially though! Don't really have any traditions per se, I did bake for a couple Christmas' in a row for gifts - made cookies one year and muffins the next. I made a pumpkin cheese cake for the first time for Thanksgiving 2007. It turned out perfect and was a rave! It was requested again for Christmas dinner. I fell asleep with a batch of cookies in the oven! I woke up a little while later, so I didn't burn the house down, but the cookies sure were done. Luckily it was the last of the batter. I guess that teaches me not to make cookies late at night! Also made a double batch of dough once for bread, and both of the loaves over-rose and I couldn't bake either of them because they became hard and crusty.