Guest post by photographer Mei Ratz || CHRISTY STIZE- mother, cook, urban farmer, coach

Christy Stize is a mother, cook, urban farmer, coach, traveler, sister and wife, and a host. She is from a small place called Oregon, Illinois where everyone knows everyone. She tells stories of the milk lady who does an incredible gymnastic move to click on the milk machine and hold her bucket at the same time. She makes her own...everything. And her eyes light up when food is mentioned, asked about, or needed. She has a cookbook brewing in her soul. I met her at Mono lake in California where her husband's family owns a house named "Pop's place"...she made dinner for over 18 people every night. And it was pure culinary bliss.

WHAT MATTERS TO YOU?

Family, friends, and good food. People revolve around food, it's a social event and a good way to be thankful for the beautiful things that we have. Sharing in a community setting is so important! 

WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO COOK?

My grandmother Cozzi and my mother. My grandmother is Irish but always cooked Italian food and my mother is German but also always cooks Italian. They taught the spiritual and social importance of food and that basic things can be made into bigger things! They taught me the beauty in simple ingredients. But the details of cooking I had to learn from trial and error and Betty Crocker. A lot of pizza dough that hadn't risen!  

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PEOPLE TO COOK FOR?

Family and friends! Always! 

FIVE THINGS YOU WILL DO BEFORE YOU DIE?

I think at the end of the day it's the little things that matter the most. So, I just want to be nice and to help people. 

THREE MOMENTS OF YOUR LIFE THAT DEFINED WHO YOU ARE TODAY?

1. Meeting my huband. He helps me be creative and grow as a person. 

2. Kids. Every day I get to see how much they are their own people. 

3. Gathering a creative group of friends. 

GOLD NUGGET OF COOKING ADVICE?

When you are cooking garlic don't let it brown! Put it on low heat and as soon as it starts to sizzle, take it off the burner. It will take the bite of raw garlic taste off, but will make your food taste delicious.

About guest blogger and photographer Mei Ratz:

A photographer and designer whose soul is from Wyoming but sole’s are in Portland, OR. An Adventurer, a visual poet, a swimmer, a gleeful optimist. Came from Wyoming to Portland in 2010 to study at PNCA and plans to use the life experienced gained to make the world a better place, help people understand people more patiently and beautifully, and wants to help the world believe more fiercely in things.

http://meiratz.com