I have little cooking talent, but because I love sugar, I have made it a point to experiment a little with baking. The results have been mixed, but I have been proud of a few outcomes. Having to prepare food is an excellent excuse for procrastinating, so if practice makes perfect, my prospects are promising.
My favorite things to cook
Most things with sugar will do; Things that are challenging--within reason--are most fun.
My favorite family cooking traditions
All of the women on my mom's side of the family hated cooking and only did it because they had to. If grease is a tradition, then that is what was passed down from my dad's side.
My cooking triumphs
Baklava, apple pie and a pretty darn good chocolate cheesecake.
My cooking tragedies
I had almost no cooking experience when I left for college, and with a few exceptions I stuck to eating sandwiches on a daily basis. After picking up a beginners cookbook, I decided to fry my first chicken (on stovetop). It ended up smoking, and it set off my fire alarm. I ended up putting the pan in the sink and dousing it with water. Yes, I ate it anyway. A few months ago, I also set my oven on fire when I but an ice cream cake in the broiler (that was a part of the recipe; the top was supposed to brown) and set it on wax paper. There were ashes everywhere, I had to throw out a lot of things, clean dishes that were in cabinets...My husband tried to ban me from the kitchen. Bad experience