I really started to learn how to cook after my first child was born and made the decision to stay home with my children. I stayed home for 14 years and homeschooled, which gave me ample time and opportunity to experiment with food and recipes. Recently I've learned cake decorating and now sell gourmet and designer cakes to my co-workers. The difficult and unusual. I cook exclusively vegetarian (lacto-ovo). I like to cook a variety of ethnic dishes. When the children were little we'd make cookies together and distribute them to our neighbors on the holidays. Thanksgiving is our family food holiday. Once a year I make mince-meat pie, which my husband loves. Mastering French bread - it's so simple, yet baking the "perfect" loaf was my triumph. Any dish I serve my family and they respond with, "It's okay, but don't make it again!" Not really a tragedy, but it does kill that recipe!