My mom usually cooked from scratch and was obsessed about always having something baked in the house. But growing up in that environment, I always said I'd either marry a rich man so we could eat out all the time or a man who liked to cook, so I wouldn't have to do it. I married a man who is neither (a tolerable flaw!), but found that I enjoy cooking for him and that I'm not too bad at it either. For a while I cooked a lot of meat-and-potatoes type dishes that he was used to, but I've started experimenting and he's not a very happy guinea pig! But even though I rebelled against my mom teaching me to cook, she managed to sneak in the basics and makes a great guide when I can't figure something out. Anything at all! When I eat out, I always look for new menu items so I can try something different and my cooking at home is no different. Since my husband's parents and mine juggle schedules to get us over for holiday feasts, I don't do much cooking for holidays. But birthdays are another story... A number of family and friends deviously hint to me when their birthday is near about what a fantastic (insert cake type) cake I made them last year. For those friends who don't bake, I'm happy to make them a yummy birthday treat - easier and less expensive than a traditional gift! Cheesecakes. Everyone is impressed with a homemade cheesecake and they're not as hard as rumors would have you believe. I once set off a smoke detector in my apartment making a grilled cheese sandwich! I still blame it on the junky pans I had at the time! But we just won't tell anyone about this, okay?