I am a mother of three, and have lived in Louisiana all of my life. I have been cooking since I was 6, helping in the kitchen with my Mom. I specialize in Italian and southern cooking, and I entertain often. My house is the family spot for good food and family togetherness. Spaghetti meatballs, lasagna, crawfish etouffee, gumbo, chicken dumplings, pot roast gravy, and many kinds of desserts. We're Italian, but also cook many southern dishes. My family plans everything around what we're going to fix to eat! I can make chicken dumplings as well as my great grandmother. I can't think of anything tragic I've made! But our family tragedy is losing my brother in a car accident. He was a professional chef and the best cook in our family. Cooking has not been the same since we lost him. He was my only sibling and I feel his loss more in my kitchen.