In order to keep your husband, you have to make time for him. Rather than going out to dinner, I like to spend time for just the two of us.

I had a very tough childhood. I came here from Italy in the '70s and didn't speak a word of English, so the kids at school tormented me. Truly, it was horrifying the names they called me, and the teachers never really did a thing to stop it.

The holidays stress people out so much. I suggest you keep it simple and try to have as much fun as you can.

These days it's cool to be ethnic and to be different, but when I was a kid, it was not cool - at all. My friends would come over and my mom would make crepes with eggs, stuffed with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and spinach. And they'd be like, 'What is this?'

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

I write everything down. I e-mail the second I think of something, or I write notes in my BlackBerry calendar. I set up reminder alerts on my phone. And I have a notebook by my bedside so I can write down any last-minute ideas.

It's more intimate. Food can connect people in a forever sort of way.