“What makes food special? Certainly not the best of everything, the most expensive ingredients, or the latest trends in cooking. No; it’s the people who made it for you, and how they loved you. I have always known there was something special about Grandma Gloria’s oven-fried chicken, and I knew that the pains of life were somehow healed in the kitchen. There is this beautiful tradition in family, every family, no matter what yours looks like. It matters not what is served, but how it’s served. There are stories and cultures and ways of life that have been forgotten, but certain things will always remain. We don't necessarily remember foods for their expense or extravagance, but for the memories they evoke.”

These recipes give a glimpse into my life and how I grew up; here, you’ll find heartwarming stories about life, love, and the food that made me. These recipes I now cook for family and those I cherish. It’s my hope you will find a recipe within these pages to cherish as well.