I love to cook because I love seeing people's faces when I've done something right! I love getting compliments on my food and whether you like to admit it, I think good food brings people together - regardless of their differences. Plus, I would love to be a good enough cook (someday I hope) that I can go to a restaurant and say "I can cook this" (whether it be better or for cheaper). Like many others, I must say my mom was a major influence on me and I love the fact that we can sit over a cup of coffee and share our cooking experiences. In fact, I think my love for cooking is our major bond because we're so different in other aspects! Although I've been using this site for over a year - I've just gotten into how fun it is to share your ideas/advice with others and how much I credit my increased cooking expertise to prior reviews. Overall, I think this site is helping me become more versatile in my cooking techniques! Things I wouldn't think I could pull off before I used this si I'll try anything once! I like to think I have a wide palette- because when I do go out to eat, I try to order stuff off the menu I've never had before. Thus, finding new recipes (even if they sound "odd") is just as fun. Also, I love breakfast foods. Besides the normal holidays (Thanksgiving, Xmas,Easter) - where there is an abundance of food/recipes that are classified as "special occassion only"-my boyfriend and I have created a tradition in trying to have a sit-down, quiet, peaceful brunch at least once per week - typically on a Sat/Sun. Not only is it fun to cook together, but to enjoy (or laugh about) the results. This is a great time for us to enjoy each other but also, there is no better way to start your day!! Making a mashed potato recipe (coincidentally - from this site!) that even my mom confessed was better than any she's ever had before and grilling salmon! Although I love fish - the cooking process sometimes scares me but my grilled salmon was to die for!!!!! In the very early stages on my relationship w/ my current boyfriend, which was also my early stages of my cooking, we decided to make a boxed version of caramel brownies. I let my boyfriend read the directions and get the ingrediants while I mixed. He read off "2c of water" - which I diligently added. Two hours later - this stuff still wasn't done baking!!! After retreiving the empty box from the garbage - we come to realize that it was 2 TBLS of water - NOT 2c. It looked like oatmeal! Even the dog wouldn't eat it!!!