Growing up in a house where your mom is first-generation German and dad is second-generation Italian can make for conflicting culinary choices. Because I was a fussy eater (and so too were my younger sisters), mom tended to make pasta and gravy (red sauce) every other Sunday to appeal to our simple tastes. But mom was a first-rate baker who could whip up cookies, pies and cakes — all of which appealed to everyone!

This multimedia piece was produced for the “Coming to the Table” series from Feet In Two Worlds.