I am a military wife, mother of 2 preteen girls, & a full time student so my days are pretty hectic. Although I am pretty picky I love to try new things, especially healthy foods. Any dish that comes out looking, and tasting as good as I thought it would is a fav to me. I <3 cooking with my crock pot, & indoor grill. The only time I fry is when it is something small for a recipe, however I never deep fry. I like knowing that I am cooking healthy & passing it alone to my girls Italian all the way! Love pasta, and garlic and olives...One thing that I have always prided myself on (an Italian skill I picked up from my family) is I can take a recipe and make it once, then the next time make changes (sometimes small, & sometimes a lot) to make it my own. Most people get mad because I will change a recipe that they have used for years & they like my version better :) I have to cook for a VERY picky eater, (I am pretty picky myself as well) a lactose intolerant eater, and still stay healthy so I think any triumph is when I find something that everyone enjoys, and its somewhat on the healthy side I would have to say that there are a few things I am not so good at cooking & gravy is definitely one of them. It took me a while to get my lasagna recipe just right, but I finally did...I would have to say my biggest tragedy lately was homemade soup. I have only tried once, however I got the wrong noodles...I will however try again