I learned to cook from my Hungarian mother and grandmother, and professional baker grandfather. I still relish the traditional dishes that I grew up with. However, living in Texas is a very different animal from the northern U.S. I have adapted my chili to reflect my evolution into a Southern inhabitant. Also, even though I detested spicy foods as a kid, I now try to add something derived from hot peppers to many dishes that I make. Chili, pizza, pies, cakes, anything new and different (my ADHD kicking in!) German Christmas cookies, pizza on the weekend, carrot cake for my Dad's birthday, apple pie for my birthday. My chili! I do not make a good dinner. I can handle one dish meals or a main dish with a salad, but more than that and things start to crash into failure.