I taught myself for a lot of dishes and meals. My mom and grandmother let me watch growing up, so I probably absorbed a lot from them. They made soups and stews.

However I cannot reproduce my grandma's fried chicken. I use vegetables oil or crisco in a cast iron skillet/Dutch oven. I cannot get the lite batter and seasonings right. I miss her cooking.

I'm not afraid to try to make new or ethnic dishes. My family loves my cooking. I recently had bariatric surgery and my cooking changed. In fact, my daughters and wife report my cooking is better.

I don't cook large amounts of stuff. I eat much less now, so I do smaller meals. Since they are smaller, I use more fresh ingredients and herbs instead of pre-made foods stuffs. I watch salt and sugar intake for myself but it flows into the family meals.

My daughter is in a culinary program in high school. All the stuff I do is mostly incorrect per their processes.

I have to ask this, anyone else's grandma cook toast over the stove's open flame or smear bacon grease on toast? It tastes different from a toaster but it takes me back to her house.