My husband and I are heavily involved in an Internet ministry. I spend time keeping my web sites up and running and cooking for him as well as guests. Anything Asian or has a spicy taste. Since we live in Ecuador and there is little spice in the Chinese restaurants, I have learned to cook my own. It had taken me a long time to learn how to make my mother's gravy but finally have it down pat. It took me at least 6-7 times to figure out how to make General Tso's chicken but finally the recipe has been perfected. Laying my Better Homes and Garden's cookbook on a hot burner. Making fried chicken for the first time in Ecuador. The altitude in the Andes requires a longer cooking time. Since then I do not fry whole chickens but only chicken strips which cook faster.