The Mid Life Dating Files 2025

What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?

Our family’s top favorite meals are easy to name: Italian, Mexican, and anything made with fresh vegetables from the garden. Honestly, vegetables will always be at the top of our list because my grandparents had a farm and grew just about everything you could imagine. Growing up, we spent summers helping pick vegetables, putting them up for winter, and going home with bags full of whatever was harvested. Those days were my favorite—every meal was truly fresh, organic, and farm-to-table. It doesn’t get better than that.

My grandmother was also known for her desserts. She baked the most incredible apple pies and pecan pies, thanks to the green apple trees and pecan trees on their farm. The smell of those pies and the taste of that flaky crust are memories I’ll never forget. Both of my grandparents have passed away, and the farm has been sold, but I miss it deeply—the land, the kitchen, the summer heat while putting up vegetables, and the simple joy of being there with them. Those are memories that live forever.

Now, when it comes to Italian food—well, I’m a vegetarian who LOVES pasta, so it’s definitely a favorite. Give me a big bowl of pasta and a good bottle of red wine, and I’m happy! I even dream of traveling through Italy one day, staying for a while, and writing about my adventures there.

Then there’s Mexican food—what’s not to love? I adore anything hot and spicy 🌶️, and my family loves pairing it with margaritas. We visit Mexico often, and the food is just irresistible. Chips and guacamole? I could eat them every single day! Plus, every Friday night, we make it our tradition to go out for Mexican and margaritas. It’s our weekly celebration!

So there you have it: our family’s top meals—garden-fresh vegetables, Italian favorites, and Mexican spice! Each one connected to our memories, our travels, and the things that bring us together.❤️🚜🍷🌶️ 🇮🇹 🇲🇽