Growing up, family dinner was one of the most important parts of the day, whether it was just myself and my dad or a gathering of extended family. Both cooking and eating were shared experiences and served as a setting for open conversation and bonding. Even as I grew up and left home, preserving these rituals was very important to me. In college, I maintained a plot in a community garden and earned a reputation among my friend group for baking bread and cooking meals despite the easy access to unlimited food in the dining halls. This was one of the best ways I knew to build social connections outside of the classroom and allowed me to share my creativity and love of food with the people I cared about.
There are too many to choose from, but my top two favorites would have to be super spicy Thai curry or a good old-fashioned baked mac and cheese.