I am the wife of a military officer, so we've lived in Germany, Australia, and all over the U.S. I think my cooking reflects the places our travels have taken us. I most like making soups, but I also enjoy baking and making gourmet pizzas. I love trying new recipes and don't make something twice unless it is out of this world. Growing up, my family always made frozen pizzas on Sunday nights. Now, I have that tradition with my own family, but we make our own, from the dough to our favorite combinations of toppings - traditional to unusual. I have found quite a few recipes that I can put together in a hurry, but still taste fabulous. I consider it a success if I like it (I like most anything) my husband likes it (he likes gourmet food and very flavorful/spicy food) and the kids like it (most kids seem to like the bland stuff). Soon after I was married I cooked a ragout from the Silver Palate cookbook. It was awful, and it seemed to last forever as we weren't about to throw it away and waste our hard earned money! We still joke about it.