I started acting at age 5. My impersonation of Crazy Guggenheim from The JackieGleason Show had guests in my parent's living room yelling "do that again. Do that again!"

Seems like I spent my entire childhood at our dining room table, wishing with all my might the vegetables on my plate would disappear. I was the definition of picky eater.

Thankfully, things got better.

I took acting classes. Landed comic roles. Did dramatic plays. Got decent reviews. Signed with an agency. Acted in independent films. Booked some big brand commercials.

I learned to cook. Discovered a stainless saute pan is the best thing. Ever. Progressed to wine and food pairings and the dazzling gourmet potential in San Francisco farmer's markets. Turns out, I LOVE vegetables: Beets with balsamic vinaigrette and basil. French green beans with olive oil, mustard and shallots. Carrots sauteed in brown butter and garnished with dill. Who knew?

Everything except those pasty, crescent-shaped legumes.

Something I wonder: Was God out of the room when lima beans were approved?