I'm a writing teacher who loves his wife and spends too much time with his dog. I love all the chopping, simmering, and improvisation involved in preparing a nice tomato sauce. I like cooking foods that fill the house with wonderful smells. I miss my Mom's elaborate Easter dinners of lamb and ham and calamari, calzone and stuffed artichoke and lasagna. Last year's Christmas duck, prepared in the Polish style. My beef, veal, and chorizo meatloaf. My beer gravy. Fudge. Too many dried up roasts to remember. The first lamb-chop I cooked, which was sick-smelling and dog-leash tough.