Q: What food smell brings you instantly back to childhood?
A: Most of my food memories are tied up with holidays, and with the smell of lots of different dishes wafting out of the kitchen at the same time.

Q: What is your first food memory?
A: Friday night pizza in front of the t.v. It's ironic because in my current life, my husband and I cook dinner ourselves almost every night and we don't even have a television.

Q: If I came to your house for supper tonight, what would you make me?
A: Is my son having a good day? If he isn't, I've been dealing with a temper tantrum and we're all having leftovers. If he is, I'd probably make steamed mussels with pasta and a salad.

Q: What is your perfect idea of happiness?
A: All at one time: good food, good weather, good friends, my family, my backyard, and no temper tantrums.

Q: What is your greatest fear?
A: My son will rebel against his outdoorsy liberal parents by growing up to be a couch potato who shills for a big ag company and invests all his money in mountaintop-removal coal mining companies. That, and rats.

Q: What historical figure do you most identify with?
A: Dorothy Parker, for her wicked sense of humor and dexterity with the English language. Alexandra David-Neel and Gertrude Bell, for their sense of adventure and determination to ignore societal constraints on their travels.

Q: Who are your heroes in real life?
A: Barbara Kingsolver: a great writer, devoted Mom, accomplished farmer and cook, and passionate voice for the causes she cares about. Also Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, who rocks in too many ways for me to list here.

Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
A: Facing most days with joy, optimism and gratitude. And getting the laundry done every week.

Q: What is your most treasured possession?
A: My vast collection of photos - paper as well as electronic.

Q: What is your motto?
A: "Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death." (Thank you, Rosalind Rusell.)