I grew up on fast food and never learned to cook. At the age of 28, while in law school, I moved in with a great roommate who was an avid cook. All of a sudden I had spices, recipe books, kitchen tools, and gadgets at my disposal. The food world was mine for the taking and I grabbed on for dear life! It was so exhilerating learning how to make things from scratch and being able to cook fresh, good, flavorful food. My favorite things to make are hearty, comfort food dishes I can share with friends and family - like pasta. But I'm passionate about baking desserts and treats because baked goods make people happy. My family has exactly zero cooking traditions that don't come off the back of a Campbell soup can. I made my first cake from entirely from scratch, topped with chocolate ganache, and decorated for a friend's 30th birthday. And the first time I made a meal for a large group of people and was told I was a "great cook" was a truly amazing thing. Petit fours!! I can't figure out the perfect glaze/icing and I'm very afraid of fondant. *sigh* And trying to make strawberry cake from scratch - it's not possible!!