About Me
I have been told that I eat for sport.
Just about everything in my world revolves around food.
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Embarking on some sort of food blog has been something simmering in my mind for quite awhile. Until now, the timing has never been right. I waited a very long time to become a mom and so every ounce of my being has focused around our daughter Lucia and her life. Without exaggeration, my husband Matty and I are enjoying every moment of being her parents. As she is in her senior year of high school, time seems to be accelerating at a much faster pace. Holding on tighter than ever, college is really just around the corner. To be perfectly honest, I need something to throw myself into so that I am not hovering over the Life 360 app as my daughter navigates her college life. There is no job or career for me to return to since it no longer exists. Putting my pen to paper is something that I have been doing for as long as I can remember, mainly as an exercise in creative writing or to “get it out” or even just for fun. There has always been something very cathartic in scribbling out my thoughts for the day. And since there is no time like the present, I am going to give this a shot.
My Story
Originally this food blog was not going to be a place for recipes. But the more I started writing, the more I decided to include a few of them. My inbox is flooded with countless recipes on a daily basis and there are thousands of sources on the Internet for anything one would like to know how to make. I certainly may post a shortcut that I discovered or a healthier substitution for a dish but it is not a recipe index.
I am not a formally trained chef or food professional. I did not attend the Culinary Institute of America or Cordon Bleu. I am just a Jersey girl who loves good food and can be heard saying “you gotta eat.” Growing up not far from NYC, I had the best possible grandparents a girl could have asked for who emigrated from Piemonte, Italy when they were in their thirties. My Italian mother didn’t speak English until she was six-years-old and she is one of those people who firmly believes food is love. And if you look at my dogs, you’ll see how I have subscribed to the same philosophy.
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Food blogging is a way to connect with like-minded ordinary people doing extraordinary things to experience and create flavorful food. One of the many reasons I enjoy the world of cooking so much is that there is always something new to learn. It is a continuous journey of discovery and sharing. I’m sure even Bobby Flay could learn a thing or two from a grandma living in Alabama! There are always new ways to do something different, introduce a new flavor or ingredient, save money, make it healthier, add a twist or upgrade and even time saving methods resulting in fewer dishes.
I decided to go with my college nickname and use Stella for this blog instead of my real name, Tracy Robinson Redling. It is also somewhat of an homage to my grandparents who both used the name at various times in their lives. Massimino Mombello went by Mario Stella when he first arrived in the United States because he thought it sounded less ethnic. My grandmother Palmina also used Stella as her first name early on. Eventually both of them reverted back to their given names. My brother still calls me Stella as do many of my friends. I like it.
Food is nourishment for the body and soul. In my ever so humble opinion, it’s how we show love. It delights, surprises and inspires us. It connects us to our past and forges new friendships. Food is communal and brings people together. Much of life revolves around it, as it is infinite pleasure. I have been eating well for decades and part of my purpose in this life is to discover new foods, flavors and wine. I invite you to join me on this exciting journey. I’d love the company.