I have a fat head - I get freaked-out looking at pictures of me.

I used to work in kitchens, doing 12 or more hours a day of physical labor, so today, eight to 12 hours of cooking, chatting or filming feels like a vacation. When I have a scheduled 'day off,' I spend several hours writing, then I clean until I crash from fatigue. I don't relax well.

Decide what it is that you are and then stay true to that thing. My brand is based very much on how I live my day-to-day life.

Never be a food snob. Learn from everyone you meet - the fish guy at your market, the lady at the local diner, farmers, cheese makers. Ask questions, try everything and eat up!

What I've learned is that at the end of the day, we are all human. We all have that in common.

My husband cooks fancier food for himself than I've ever cooked on-air. I call him from the road, and he's making champagne-vanilla salmon or black-cherry pork chop. Half of me is feeling unworthy. Not only am I not a chef, I'm not a better cook than my own husband!

I measure in my palm and use my eyes to estimate amounts; a tablespoon is a full palm of dried spices.