Self taught cook. Learned by observing on TV and by reading menus and just by trying new things. When I want to make something, I look up about 50 recipes for it, and sort of make up my own recipe based on others. While cooking I change things around. I like to mix things up. Consequenty I don't have a lot of my recipes "written down". I'm not afraid to try things even if I fail. At least I'll learn something in the process (hopefully). Chicken/veal marsala, fish (cajun blackened mahi mahi, ginger sesame salmon, tuna encrusted with sesame seeds), crab cakes.... anything really. I love to try new things and most recipes don't scare me. Lasagna, baked stuffed shrimp, baked macaroni and cheese, clams casino, crab cakes, chicken marsala, chocolate mousse, red sauce, kabobs... Lamb au Poivre with a mushroom red wine demi glaze. Tried to make it without a recipe and it came out right the first time (rare) and the sauce rocked. Coconut shrimp. I was making a 'practice batch'. Everytime I dropped the shrimp in the hot oil, the batter "fell" off. I tried for what seems like forever and went through a great many shrimps. Finally I went to the store and bought new flour (and also had to get new shrimp, too) and voila! The batter stuck to the shrimp. I will always check the date on my flour before using it for anything.