The Skinny Blog is all about the complete enjoyment of life through culinary experiences.

A little about me: I was born and raised in Sonoma, California and am back living in my hometown once again after a 7 year hiatus of living all over the place. My culinary influences come first and foremost from my mom, who was an amazing cook and never failed to have a huge meal on the table for anyone who walked through the front door. Also, growing up in Sonoma Valley and beautiful wine country has also impacted my taste in both food and wine. I think it’s safe to say we really get spoiled in this region! Finally my Italian/Sicilian heritage has had a strong influence on the recipes, food and wine I gravitate towards. I have no professional training, I’m just cooking my way through life!

I lived in Rome for a few months and there fell in love with the concept that food is more than just a meal, it’s a way of life. The Italians would sit at a cafe for hours in the evening, chatting with friends, sharing bites and bottles of wine while sharing laughs. I always try to “cook with love” as my mom used to say and feel the most satisfying part of cooking is sharing that love with the people around you.

It’s a little ironic that I named my blog The Skinny as I’ve never been a “skinny” person but I do strive to be healthy. I used the word skinny to mean getting the down low, the latest and greatest, you get the picture. I do try to use healthy, fresh ingredients, a lot of fruits and vegetables and mediterranean recipes. But I am the first person to try a fabulous dessert recipe and chocolate is an almost daily indulgence. Because as my sister says, if you’re going to splurge, “Make it count!”