I am a New Orleans native. I love spending time visiting and cooking with family and friends.

I am a “Rajun’ Cajun” who graduate from the University of Louisiana in 1986 with a BS in Nursing. I matured as a Nurse at Alton Ochnser Medical Foundation in New Orleans.

For nearly 20 years, I cared for numerous critically ill, organ failure , diabetic and transplant patients. A huge part of my job was reinforcing and supporting patients with their dietary restrictions.

My family and I relocated to Austin, Texas after our home in New Orleans was devastated by Katrina. My three great kids and three cute chickens all love Arzu! I now work at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. The gift of working with these marvelous kids inspires me daily. Saturdays in the garden are great. Teaching the neighborhood kids to knit is way cool. Travel and trying different foods makes the world a smaller place.

As a Grainiac, one of my favorite things is transforming a beloved recipe into a healthy new treasure.