One of the most satisfying things I have experienced in my life over the last several years is teaching my Mother new ways and methods of cooking.
For example, roasted asparagus, instead of steamed. She loved them. Another thing I introduced to her was Balsamic Vinegar. She's now absolutely nuts for the stuff. But, we're German, so we're nuts for just about all kinds of vinegar.
She taught me cook the way she learned from her Mother. Mom was a good cook, but not really spectacular. Mom and I work REALLY well in the kitchen together. That's one of the things that I really miss about being in DC, I don't get to see her as often as I like, and I don't get to cook with her.
Some years ago Mtnbkr introduced me to Alton Brown. I started watching him, and it really opened my eyes on new ways to cook the same things that I had always been cooking, especially vegetables and some meats.
Simple things like slicing a London Broil on the bias so that it's tender. Not flipping the burgers every 15 seconds and smashing them with the spatula so that they turn out dry.
One good thing about Mom, though, is that unlike so many of my friend's Mothers is that she was never afraid of using spices. Eating at some friend's homes was always an exercise in bland. You'd see maybe 5 spices.
It was sort of like where Marge Simpson went to the church craft fair and found a spice rack with 12 spices. "12 spices? Some of them must be duplicates.... ORE-EEEEE-GONE--OH? What the hell?"