I had the absolute privilege of growing up in one of the most bountiful regions in the United States...“California’s Heartland.”
As a child, I spent many days a week at my Grandparent’s Ranch in Ceres, CA, running through the almond orchard and riding on the tractor with my Nonu. It was on that very Ranch (which remains in our Family to this day) where my
love for “farm-to-fork” ingredients first
began. Besides their forty acres of almonds, Nonu and Nana had a small plot of land that surrounded their farmhouse where they had planted an array of fruits and vegetables. Depending on the season, you could find anything from zucchini, basil, and fava beans to peaches, plums, and apricots. Being able to plant, pick, prepare, and plate this fresh produce was essentially the beginning of my culinary quest. Needless to say, it is a heritage that I am so very proud of having. So here I am... after twelve years of living in Southern California as a professional musician, I’ve headed back home to the Central Valley with my extremely supportive husband, Kit Casey (aka: “The Taste Tester”), & find myself pursuing a food-filled fantasy. Please join me on this tasty adventure of fresh, family-inspired recipes.
