hey good lookin', what's cookin'?

this meme has traveled halfway round the world! starting from delicious days, i've been tagged by hacibey to participate. 

what is your first memory of baking/cooking on your own?   
my sister and i used to make tuna noodle casserole a lot. and frozen dinners.

who had the most influence on your cooking?   
my husband. bbh (before better half), i really didn't cook - or at least didn't take a keen interest in it. aren't i so 1950s?

do you have an old photo as “evidence” of an early exposure to the culinary world and would you like to share it?
no. darn.

mageiricophobia - do you suffer from any cooking phobia, a dish that makes your palms sweat?
pie crust and rice. they break me every time.

what would be your most valued or used kitchen gadgets and/or what was the biggest letdown?
most valuable players: kitchenaid mixer (i recommend buying the biggest one you can afford. the extra room makes a big difference! sur la table is having a sale on them), microplane grater, lemon press (but don't get the one from williams-sonoma. the enamel has worn off of three different ones. yes, they replace them each time, but still!)

needs improvement: egg slicer. i used ours to slice mushrooms and it broke. also, an herb grinder. total bust.

name some funny or weird food combinations/dishes you really like - and probably no one else!
tough one. i don't think i eat weird stuff really. i suppose i add hot sauce to a lot of things. is that weird?

what are the three eatables or dishes you simply don’t want to live without?
ma bo tofu.
veggie crumbles.
fresh-frozen fruit for smoothies.

your favorite ice-cream.
i've been staying away from sugar, but i really like double rainbow's very cherry soy ice cream and tofutti cuties (non-dairy ice cream sandwiches).

you will probably never eat.
meat.

your own signature dish.
spaghetti sauce or chili. people seem to like those. oh! and beans. just plain pinto beans. forget it. i don't have a signature anything.

you got tagged by.
hacibey

three people you'd like to pass this meme onto.
no tags, but would love to have the link if you do post.