I like to cook from foreign cookbooks, (like French, Mexican). When my children were young, I cooked a lot of French foods using wine, which reduces, (my children always slept good at night too). My grandparents owned a restaurant, that is where I learned a lot about food when I was pre-school age. My husband introduced me to the world of Cajun cooking. It took years to learn, and get used to, but that probably is my favorite to this day. Homeade is what it is all about. Processed foods contain chemicals that are known carcinogens. You can use lemon juice, salt, etc. to extend, whiten the potatoes, avacados,etc. I've learned to make my own sausages, my own TV dinners, etc. using only good fresh ingredients. It takes time, so I usually am cooking for the next week on my days off. It is worth the time spent. Some favorite recipes of mine have been published in my church's own cookbook. Like, coq-au-vin. By reading the book "The Escoffier, Cookbook and Guide To The Fine Art Of Cookery", when I was in my twenties, I learned the basis of cooking anything. Plenty of cooking tragedies when I was first starting out with my own family, but that's how I learned to cook. Everyone probably learns the same way.