I have grown up with an appreciation for food, my Dad was a head chef and owned his own restaurant. I can remember at the age of 8, eating frogs legs and him telling me it was chicken...and I didn't know the difference! He always had me and my sister at least try what he was making, even if he knew we wouldn't like it. Well his love for cooking has definitely rubbed off on me. I find I am the happiest when I am in my kitchen cooking something wonderful for my family and friends. Everyone thinks cooking is so hard, but really it is one of those things that the more you do it, the better you get at it. There is nothing more satisfying for me then to hear, "Oh my gosh, that was so good...how did you make that"! I only hope I can have the same influence now on my son that my father had on me. I love to cook spicy foods, especially Cajun or Creole, my signature dish is Cajun Jambalaya. I make a pretty tasty Mexican lasagna as well. I am just learning how to make my own bread. I find there is something really special about making fresh homemade bread from your own hands, getting the yeast to rise, kneading it, and watching it rise! My favorite time of year to cook is the holidays, everyone is so festive! My parents have a Christmas Eve drop in every year, and I spend the entire day cooking with my Dad helping him prepare! I also love baking Christmas cookies, spending the entire weekend baking and listening to Christmas music...this past year it even snowed! As for starting my own cooking tradition, well that has been baking family birthday cakes from scratch. I never really thought of myself as a baker, but after making a few birthday cakes it has now become expected in my family….and I love it, it’s much more personal! I’d actually get my feelings hurt now if they wanted a store bought cake! Well I have to say my biggest cooking triumph has been a Tiramisu Cheesecake, it was the first cheesecake I ever made...and let me just say, it was THE BEST I have ever had...I even impressed my Dad! Hands down...homemade pasta! I tried to make a fresh spinach pasta for a seafood dish, and it turned out to be a gross, green, sticky, pile of dough! I wont even attempt to make my own pasta again!