Inspired by the many wonderful, late-night conversations with my grandmother at the dinner table.

We all have stories to tell — stories to inspire, stories to teach, stories to excite, stories that have lived on for generations, and stories that have happened in our own lifetime. Nevertheless, the importance of storytelling within our daily lives gives each of us purpose, understanding, and appreciation for the world around us.

My favorite place to hear stories about my ancestors and heritage is in the kitchen. Whether it’s sitting on the dining room table with my grandmother as she goes through (what seems like) ancient photographs or it’s me in my kitchen making biscotti after 10+ hours of researching the art of the Italian delicacy, I’ve learned more than I could imagine through my passion for food and the yearning to learn more about my heritage.

I started Muleta with the goal to get these intimate conversations and experiences shared around other people’s dinner tables or kitchens onto ‘paper. Creating a family cookbook has always been on my bucket list, and I believe there is no better time to create a legacy of delicious, imperfect recipes for generations to enjoy.

I feel it’s necessary to state that the recipes on this “digital family cookbook” are not perfect in the eyes of whatever culture they come from — whether my own kitchen or someone else’s. My chicken cacciatore — though exceptionally delicious — is not like how you would enjoy it in Italy, and I have no shame in disclaiming that within the recipe. My tacos? Zesty and flavorful, but I promise they don’t have a long-lost twin in Mexico. They’ve been through cycles of changes, adaptations and mistakes. They’ve been loved, enjoyed and praised from one child to the next. That is what makes them so beautiful! So, please enjoy this array of Muleta-style recipes with a little twist on our family cookbook.