I'm a widow and cook for myself and a relative who is a kidney patient.
My favorite things to cook
Christmas cookies because my mom always made a big deal out of making them with us kids (and then hiding them from us so there'd be some left for Christmas day). I also enjoy making and eating comfort foods...soups, stews, bread.
My favorite family cooking traditions
Big turkey-with-all-the-trimmings holiday meals.
My cooking triumphs
I learned to "bake" cakes over campfires on backpacking trips.
My cooking tragedies
I am incapable of cooking either butter beans OR oatmeal without making a boilover mess. And I don't have any interest whatsoever in making my own pie dough or homemade biscuits.