Who is Lucia?
Lucia was my great grandmother who immigrated here from Italy. She and my great grandfather had a huge garden in the backyard. They raised all of their own produce, canning as many as 200 jars of tomatoes by the end of the season. Nannie, as I called her, made all of her own breads, pastas, and pizzas from scratch. Vegetables were fresh and seasoned with garlic, fresh herbs, and good-quality olive oil. They never ate prepared foods or ingested chemicals and preservatives commonly found in convenience food products. Her cooking style formed the basis for my own philosophy: Start with fresh, high-quality ingredients, prepare them using healthy cooking methods, and eat balanced meals for maximum nutrition.
