The smell of basil gives me joy. I love to work with spinach, especially spinach pie, spinach and artichoke dip, and salads. Everyone tells me that I make the best applesauce they have ever eaten. But really, give me an ingredient and I'll find a way to cook an awesome dish. My paternal grandparents taught me how to cook. My grandma is still around, and we'll spend entire afternoons chatting about applesauce technique over tea. Lots of things! Easter dinner 2005. No one told me that you shouldn't refrigerate vegetarian gravy!