I grew up in the kitchen, mostly with my grandfather, my mother and my aunt Raffy.

Don't expect too much from yourself. What I like to do when I have a day off is make various cookie doughs and freeze them. Then I always have that on hand if I need it.

I have been blessed with a good, fun, and wonderful life, but I've also seen a whole lot of pain.

My mother and I, our favorite part of any baked pasta is the top, where the cheese gets crusty.

Attitudes toward food have completely changed.

Yoga has trimmed my body in a way that the gym never could. I used to be a gym rat, but I switched to yoga and am now almost 10 pounds lighter. One important thing I've gotten from yoga is breathing. When I'm cooking, the top part of my body collapses down. It cuts off my diaphragm.

Everything in moderation.