I love to cook anything that requires a lot of handiwork like chopping, peeling, grating, etc. I like my food to be as fresh as possible and be cooked the right way (not to say that I always cook things the right way!) My only problem is having enough time to cook the way I like to and still be able to enjoy it without rushing but I almost always find a way ;) Growing up with two parents that both worked, my mom rarely had time to experiment with newer and more gourmet meals, though I know she would have liked to but she did her best by preparing the same six or seven recipes each month, altering them each time to make them better and better! Then after a few months she'd try a new recipe and over time, slowly perfect that one. I think these recipes are what you would call comfort food and I still prepare my mom's recipes for happy eaters to this day. Other favorite comfort foods of mine include authentic mexican food (growing up in southern California makes this cuisine a staple), camping food that my family and I would eat when we'd take trips up to Wrightwood which pretty much includes just about anything you can cook over a gas or wood fire grill (don't forget the smores and hot cocoa!), and my grandma's unforgettable Special K bars! Chewy gooey, peanut buttery, butterscotchy, chocholic's dessert that never fails to make my mouth water Finding this website! For Real! Discovering great wecipes, yes wecipes (web + recipes) that almost never fail to impress has really built up my confidence and passion as a cook. I find so much delight in choosing the perfect meal from such an incredibly large database, knowing that when those plates hit the table, tastebuds will be raving! I've definitely made meals I'm not proud of, experimented with cooking techniques that ended in disappointment, and tried recipes that failed to deliver but whatever kitchen mishaps ended in tragedy always proved to be a reminder in the future of what NOT to do and therefore has made me a better cook. I've also found that some things are just not in your control! For example my husband and I have very similar taste in some things and extreme opposite in others. The trick for me has been finding a way to take flavors we both enjoy and mesh them together, which is a challenge I eagerly and enthusiastically accept!