I always liked to cook even as a little boy, started with peanut butter cookies at 4 years old. I was hooked. I used to bake & decerate cakes when my sons were growing up for thairs and friends birthdays. My biggest influence was my aunte, she loved to cook and try all kinds of food. I like to experement with foods, I will start with a recipe, then continue to change it. Had an Italian friend over for dinner, he used to rave about his mothers Lesagna, since that night he now raves about mine.