Psychology is as important as substance. If you treat people with respect they will go out of their way to accommodate you. If you treat them in a patronizing way they will go out of their way to make your life difficult.
I seriously love to cook... My grandmother was an amazing cook. As a kid I used to help her make handmade pasta Cavatelli and Ravioli. It was one of my favorite things to do. I love the idea of making whatever is in the fridge into something.
