The day my husband told me my cooking was better than his mother's was the best day of my entire "cooking" career. I began experimenting in the kitchen with my grandma when I was just a little girl, licking the bowl of her cookies and helping chop vegetables. Then I stepped into my mom's kitchen and joined her as a young adolescent. My grandma came from a time when canned soup was added to everything and butter was the cure-all for any dish. My mother took it up a notch to add gourmet food to our family. Williams and Sonoma became a collector's item for cookbooks. I ended up cooking for the family when mom worked nights, and by the time I got to college, I could master just about any recipe. Now I enjoy cooking for my husband and trying exotic recipes and experimenting with breads and doughs. I enjoy stir-fry variations and Japanese cooking. I also am a big fan of homemade breads, although I don't have much time to do so now. Although it took many trials before I understood how to make my own bagels and pizza doughs, it is well worth the effort. Simple and healthy dinners are also a staple of my cooking, as I was raised to believe that while a woman can work outside the home, she should always prepare homemade and healthful meals for her family. So, I am becoming accustomed to quickly looking in the fridge/freezer, etc and combining different ingredients and thinking up a good recipe for dinner! I loved decorating Christmas cookies with my grandmother. She made so many kinds, it was like Christmas itself just seeing all of the plates of fresh cookies. Also, my family and I go overboard when it comes to holidays. We pride ourselves on top-notch hors devours, flambed or poached desserts, rich salads, and unique vegetables while keeping with traditional holiday recipes. The day I first made bagels was when I felt I was stepping up to become a better cook. Also, my popovers are pretty darn awesome when I throw in chives and shred Gruyere throughout the batter. My husband loves my stir-frys. Once I tried to make a salmon puff as a teenager and it was the most disgraceful recipe on the planet. Also, when I am in a hurry and don't allow the water to boil for pasta so it can become al dente! And once I made a beef stew and accidently thickened with powdered sugar instead of cornstarch because the room was dark. It actually turned out quite good though!