Some of the recipes came from my family, or I just figured it out from how my family made things. But then I had to get the recipes together. I had to learn to use a computer and I got together recipes from all over. I'd have written them on matchbooks or while I was at the hairdresser's.

The only person I really like in the kitchen is Linda. I have a little galley kitchen, but I can put out a dinner party for forty. Now when I have a dinner party I plan it when she's around so she can help me. She does the same.