My husband cooks fancier food for himself than Ive ever cooked on-air. I call him from the road, and hes making champagne-vanilla salmon or black-cherry pork chop. Half of me is feeling unworthy. Not only am I not a chef, Im not a better cook than my own husband! – Rachael Ray

Good food and a warm kitchen are what makes a house a home. I always tried to make my home like my mothers, because Mom was magnificent at stretching a buck when it came to decorating and food. Like a true Italian, she valued beautification in every area of her life, and I try to do the same. – Rachael Ray

My mom, whos been in the restaurant business for 40 years, is the number-one influence in my life. But I look up to a lot of people in the industry. Tops on my list is Mario Batali. My mom and Mario taught me the same lesson: Food is love. – Rachael Ray