My boyfriend and I cook dinner almost every night, because it's so much fun to try out new and favorite recipes. We both come from families who passed on recipes to both of us (I'm Irish-German and he's Japanese), so there's always something to try. Our love for cooking and trying out new recipes really started in college, so often we were entertaining and on a very restricted budget. I think the best part is that we cook together and for our friends and family, and we try to alter recipes to make them healthier (though we definitely enjoy some sweet baked goods on occasion). My favorite recipes usually consist of fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Stir-frys and grilled vegetables (corn on the cob, portabellas, etc) are some of my favorites. I love to keep things light and healthy, and have found that often the simplest recipe is the best. I invited some family and friends over for Thanksgiving dinner, though I had never made a turkey before, or organized such an extensive menu with a tiny college oven. Some of the vegetables were a little over-cooked, but the turkey ("Rosemary Roasted Turkey") and the company made for a wonderful dinner. This story isn't about a tragedy of mine, but of my boyfriend's. He was trying to surprise me with breakfast in bed, and being the chocolate-lover that I am, wanted to make chocolate pancakes. He thought using chocolate syrup would be a good idea, but they were absolutely disguisting. I tried my best to be gracious, but I couldn't even finish half of one. Nonetheless, it's the thought that counts. (FYI: stick with chocolate chips or cocoa powder in your pancakes)