I like doing food as a focal point on my table. It is not like going out and buying flowers or candles, which are expensive.

Sure, you can mix the flour, baking soda, salt, shortening, and the whole nine yards, but why wouldn't you just pull out a box of Bisquick?

My secret to survival has been embracing life's challenges and not letting them dictate my frame of mind or determine my fate... Learning to stand strong in the face of challenge and adversity is the only way to get through the tough times.

I had to be frugal, thoughtful, resourceful. I didn't have anyone to tell me, 'You can't.' When you're young, you think you can do anything, and that was really a gift. That's why I can never understand someone telling me 'no' today. 'No' just isn't an option.

How do I cope with stress? I clean and organize.

Seventy percent store-bought, ready-made plus 30 percent fresh allows you to take 100 percent of the credit.

One of the things I do in my cookbooks is I will do a conversion from outdoor to indoor grilling so you can do it year-round.