With all of our holidays, food has always been an integral part of them. My grandmother on my mother’s side, Geraldine, was the main driver of all the gatherings, as well the best cook. Her passion for food was one of those ones that you could just sort of see and experience when you were around her. She loved to see all of her family together around the same table, laughing, and enjoying whatever she cooked up…which was oftentimes whatever you wanted. Mine was always beef stew via the crockpot. In fact, when I went off to undergrad at Michigan State University, she taught me how to make it and gifted me a crockpot. I still have that same one well over a decade later. 

She was that kind of person. 

I like to think this is where my cooking inspiration came from. My grandpa taught me how to make the best grilled cheese, my father taught me how to use a grill, and lots of people taught me little things along the way. None of them really showed me how to put your heart into what you’re making for others like she did though. 

The desserts thing I know came from a sweet tooth that is somehow never satisfied. Lucky for me, my father and youngest brother are both dentists. 

I wish there was a wilder background story to this whole thing, like some sort of Marvel villain origin but unfortunately it is really more a Grandma and a sweet tooth sort of thing!