I think my biggest inspiration for learning how to cook was being told at an early age that women like guys who can cook. I wasn't good at sports, so I figured I should focus on my strengths and creativity. Also, growing up as a vegetarian in a meat and potatoes Irish immigrant family where food was boiled and bland (the term 'spice' referenced to only two things: salt and pepper) forced me to learn how to cook from an early age. I'm no longer a vegetarian, but I still strive to cook healthy, flavorful meals that are heavy on fish and vegetables and light on meat. Pizza, Ice Cream & Sorbets, Pasta, Chili, Salads, Stir Frys, Kabobs, Fish, Grilled and Baked Veggies, Smoothies Irish Soda Bread My first Thanksgiving dinner (2005). I made the Maple Roast Turkey and Gravy. Everyone loved it. I tried to make gingerbread when I was 9. It tasted like cardboard.