Many, if not most, of my cooking stories and memories are attached to my time in Germany.I was an au pair — a nanny with less pay and more responsibility who lives with the family.Before I flew across pond, I had cooked some on my own. I moved out of the dorms early because I loathed not being able to cook for myself.As the au pair, I was in charge of cooking for a family of four and also for cooking for guests, visiting family and parties.I had always toyed with the idea of hummus before, and as a kid …