My mom never really taught me to cook, I just watched her a lot. I had a couple roommates and friends early on who were very adventurous, which helped encourage me to break out of the box with my cooking. In the last 5 years or so, I'd have to say that my cooking really took off to another level, ratcheting higher as I increased my herb and spice collection. Funny how that happens. Right now I'm home taking care of the offspring, so I have more time and energy to cook. I love making extra for leftovers and even freezing some for later. I love making complicated recipes that utilize my racks and racks of spices on the weekends, so I'm really starting to get into Middle Eastern and Indian cooking During the week, it's a little more simple. I adore one pot soups and stews. I am the soup queen. On those nights when no one wants to cook, we just wander over to the stuffed freezer and pull out a container of homemade soup, fajitas, enchiladas. I'm afraid that my kid isn't old enough to help cook yet, but he's going to learn. I really enjoying feeding all sorts of world cuisine to my kid (since I doubt it will last). It's great watching him chow down on such things as curries and tagines, Thai, Indian, Laosian, Morrocan, Italian, and good home cooking.