I have been in the kitchen baking and cooking with my mom since I was 3 years old and a passion for cooking, food, wine, and friends runs deep in my family. I am a new mom to a little boy that was born in December 2007 and have been struggling to get out from under the chaos of being a work at home/stay at home/do EVERYTHING at home mom. Things are finally settling down to where I can return to my favorite way to love: cooking. I love to cook on the fly, just see what is in the fridge and go from there. I love ANYTHING big, bold and fresh tasting. But I always come back to some basics: creamy chicken chipotle pasta, oven roasted whole chicken, quinoa salad, cold sesame noodles, paella, and more. Up until her passing last year, for Thanksgiving and Christmas my Spanish grandmother was in charge of making the gravy. There was a science to it that she had, and even though it may not all seem necessary (a glass of wine to drink, a small knotts glass jar, etc.) but were absolutely required... it made for the best gravy that I have ever tasted. Although the perfection of the gravy may have passed on with her, she thankfully taught my sisters and I the tradition, which we will continue to hold as sacred. Making paella with my husband, Lamb chops while pregnant (almost lost it.. I was so nauseous!), Easter dinner, my sister's baby shower, and more... I was making a balsamic reduction sauce for roasted lamb for Easter and forgot about the sauce. It turned into balsamic vinegar candy. For mothers day I made key lime pie three times: attempt 1 was when the crust jumped into the sink, attempt 2 ended up all over the floor of my brand new car, and attempt 3 was finally a success, after much cussing.