I have always LOVED to bake and I am very good at it. My specialties are desserts. However, in all of my years of cooking, I still always use recipes. I have never tried to "create" something of my own. I'm now trying to cook main dishes more -- and I'm trying to diet. This is a challenge. I'm needing help in this area. Desserts: Cakes, pies, tortes, bars, candy, cookies, mousse, etc. We're NOT Italian by heritage; but everyone in my family cooks superb Italian food. I was also raised in El Paso, so my first meals were Mexican food -- which I still love today! Most anything is "do-able" if I follow the recipe correctly! I make the best chocolate cake EVER! Messing up the simple things: like burning the rice, broccili, cauliflower, etc. Have added too much of a spice, like fresh rosemary to lasagne once and everyone kept picking stems out of their mouth!