If you've attended the Cordon Bleu, you would know that no woman is supposed to be a chef - only men.

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.

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 always buy the smaller turkeys. On the pre-baste put pats of butter on the meat under the skin, put the skin back on, put a bunch of seasoning on the top, call it a day, put it in the oven. With a 10 - 12 pound turkey you are done in a couple of hours.

My most cherished possessions are my grandma's letters and my vintage Martha Washington cookbook.

You don't need to be born with a silver spoon to reach for the brass ring

I didn’t even cry, I was stunned. You know, and that’s just how fast life turns. It turns on a dime.