I am of Italian descent, married for over twenty years to a husband of Japanese descent. I grew up with Italian and Mexican food in my native Napa Valley, and since marrying my darling Raymond I have learned Japanese cookery as well. We live on three acres and we grow everything from artichokes to zucchini. I love to make soup, salads, roasted meat, polenta, pesto, and pasta. I also make sushi, udon, sato imo, pickled vegetables, and other Japanese dishes. Big Italian dinners and Japanese sushi parties! The invention of the tomato pesto on sandwiches that rocked my son's high school pals, the invention of the 'paintball roll', and my unique bruschetta from the garden. Also, I make an anti-gravity chocolate cake...cake so heavy and rich it defies gravity! Never NEVER ask me for a carrot cake recipe.