I started learning a little about cooking from volunteering at the Elks Lodge. I am beyond basic at it, but am having fun. My wife is a much better cook when she wants to, but seems to prefer letting me take care of it for her. Abalone rolled and filled with jalapeno and monterey jack, Green chilli and chicken tamales, Omlets, Red velvet cake, Camarones ranchero. Every spring I dive for abalone. We eat a few fresh and freeze a few for a big group pot luck. I am always the star of that. While deployed for the hurricane katrina tragedy, I made tamales and refried beans for christmas. Everyone enjoyed a homemade style dinner while they had to spend time away from home. It was a challenge to make traditional (as traditional as I can make) mexican dinner in Louisiana when you don't know where any of the markets are.