Cooking has always brought me a happiness that I didn't think was available. I just fire up the stove, and things start to fade away.

Onions and bacon cooking up just makes your kitchen smell so good. In fact, one day I'm going to come up with a room deodorizer that smells like bacon and onions. It's a fabulous smell.

Southerners have never been afraid of seasoning. It's kind of the other way around; our seasoning is afraid of us.

I will never use a substitute for butter. Margarine is one molecule away from eating plastic.

I feel like 'embattled' or 'disgraced' will always follow my name. It's like that black football player who recently came out.

I have my new food line in the works - I think it's over 200 items. Hopefully I can make a difference; it's delicious food that's just so easy. I think it'll help people enjoy their lives... it's good!

In my house, the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl Game have always been a grand tradition for ringing in the New Year. To serve as Grand Marshal is a dream come true and I look forward to sharing the celebration with all of the fans and viewers worldwide.