The most overrated tool: a pasta maker. Why make it when you can buy it? It's a lot of work!

I've taught myself how to use good, fresh ingredients and to prepare them as simply as possible by cooking only to enhance their intrinsic flavors.

I use other cookbooks for inspiration. I must say I tend to cook from my own cookbooks for parties.

I time everything. I'm a scientist at heart.

I absolutely adore Thanksgiving. It's the only holiday I insist on making myself.

I try to greet my friends with a drink in my hand, a warm smile on my face, and great music in the background, because that's what gets a dinner party off to a fun start.

I'm really a scientist. I follow recipes exactly - until I decide not to. And then I'll follow something else exactly. I may decide I could turn this peach tart into a plum tart, but if I'm following a recipe, I follow it exactly.