I was an only child and my mother was a good cook. So I did not really learn as a child. I did make Friday night dinners for a period of time, when Mom was working weekends. Baked potato, salmon loaf, and canned spinach every Friday. No wonder she didn't work at that job too long! I love to bake, but only do it rarely anymore. So I almost always take desserts to our monthly neighborhood meeting. A few years ago, my Dr. said, 'You're not a diabetic, but...." That did it. I became serious about dieting, and my dear husband took over the cookiing for out dinner, so I could stay away from temptation. He had never cooked until he retired, but became a areally GOOD cook, and more imaginative by far than I. I lost over 50 pounds, and he had something that he got really involved in, taking over the shopping as well as the cooking. I do, and always have, enjoyed making bread. I have a bread machine, but haven't useed it since the novelty wore off, as the best part of bread making is doing the kneading, and it is a wonderful way to work out frustrations. I can't think of any really major mess ups. Just feel that I was not a very imaginative chef. Having four girls and a husband who was only willing to eat hamburger cooked with tomato sauce and any pasta, during much of our lives, and a very time consuming job for 20 years, I just was pedestrian for most of my cooking life. Now that my Doug is gone, I am tr ying to keep up the job he and I did on my weight and health.