I am always complimented when someone asks me for a recipe, and especially when they ask me where or how I created that particular dish.

It was my father who introduced me to the tradition of black-eyed peas and greens for New Year’s Day. I don’t know if it was handed down from prior generations or if he learned of it some other way, but for years he always made sure I had a can of black-eyed peas for good luck that day.

I cannot remember a time when I did not love Nutella, or when I tasted it for first time. It was probably as a child when we were living in Spain in 1966... before Nutella first commercially crossed the Atlantic in 1983.

Definitely one of the biggest part of the Christmas season for me involves chocolate...in many forms, of course, but often in balls.

White beans are very high on my list of comfort foods, especially when the temperature drops. So when the forecast comes out for a cold snap, and the grocery stores have run on bread, milk, beer and wine; I find my comfort in white beans.

For some it is the best part, whether it is that first Thursday night raid on the fridge, to pick and choose amongst the delectable packages, or if you can hold off until Friday for that turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce sandwich.

Thanksgiving means many things to me, as I am sure it does to everyone in this country.

It may seem a little early to bring up Thanksgiving, but if you love this meal as much as I do, you are already planning the day and the food.

I love the fall. The leaves turning, the chill snap in the air in the morning, the afternoon that is just warm enough for me to enjoy the front porch with a wine and cheese snack, the bounce in the dog’s gait as she leads me out on a walk through the neighborhood, the anticipation of Thanksgiving (one of my favorite food holidays).

Mi Amigo, mi hermano Guillermo Have you ever met someone who felt like a long lost friend or member of your family?