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conversing with JoAnna. As generous with her time as she is with the compliments, JoAnna makes it a point to have a conversation with me. (Interviews are often one-sided.) We discover that we both have Orlando, New York City, and Los Angeles in common as well as a shared affinity for L.A. restaurant Bossa Nova and Ina Garten. Talk about the Hamptons- based culinary superstar naturally segues into New York living. "When we lived in New York, it was some of the best times of our lives. We were here for four years when Nick was with the Yankees… I love coming here and the food is amazing. And being Cuban, it's all about the food and drink for me." Relishing delicious fare and libations with friends and family, whether it be in a restaurant or the comfort of their home, is a significant part of the Swisher's lifestyle. From the moment she walked into their new L.A. home, she could envision having people over to kick off their shoes and relax while she cooks for them. Since their parents are so close by (hers even live in the same neighborhood), they all eat together practically every night. "I just love the open door to a home. There's always some delicious food cooking or in the fridge. A bottle of wine is always open. Kids are always running around. To me, that's happiness. I think that's why I love Florida so much. That's what Florida is for us. We always have our family around us. And then in L.A., we have our friends that are our family." The night before our interview, JoAnna and Nick sat down with Chef Josh Capon, who is an old friend of theirs, at his restaurant Lure Fishbar. The prolific chef-restaurateur "fed them silly" and sent JoAnna home with a few tips on using her new pizza oven. JoAnna, like many of her "Suzy Homemaker friends," loves to cook —so much that she flirts with the idea of attending culinary school. "I have that desire to always feed," she says passionately, "so I'm looking forward to the new house in L.A. to do that." She especially loves feeding Sailor homemade baby food. "It sounds so bougey and I'm not that Hollywood mom, but I really enjoy cooking baby food for her. The other day, Nick came home and was like, 'What are you doing?' 'Making my own organic vegetable stock.' He's like, 'Ohmygod. You're so annoying.' I was like, 'I know! I'm so annoying!'" She wails with laughter. "But I'm so proud of myself. If I was that girl that Instagrammed food, I would have totally thrown that into the universe." JoAnna deems herself a private person, who often considers sharing more with the world, but "gets scared." In addition to acting and cooking, JoAnna channels her creativity into interior design and writing. "I've been writing [scripts and short stories] a lot. I've never gotten the confidence to let anybody read it [except for Nick and close friends]. I will be inspired by something and I will sit down and just write something. But again, I'm really private about those deep, dark thoughts. One day I will." This year, her goal is to be more confident about sharing her writing, which is partly autobiographical and partly coming-of-age. "If you know me for a second, I could be a little bit of a hot mess. I can find myself in interesting situations. I like a good cocktail and I had a lot of fun in my 20s, so I've written a lot of those kind of things." This sparks her feelings on raising two daughters. "I want them to know that they have my full support. I think in life you sorta get what you put out there, and it doesn't mean you're void of the trials and tribulations. Life is a rollercoaster, but if you can look at your toughest moments in life and find blessings in those things in time, that's a pretty awesome way to live your life. I want them to be tough and strong and know that they can weather any storm… that they can specifically design whatever they want out of their life and get it," she says thoughtfully. Being tough is the trait she's most proud to possess. I find this out when I ask for a single word to describe herself. "I feel like there's not much I can't get through." What one word would Nick use to describe you? I ask. She suggests that I ask him myself, then guesses: loyal or loving. The happily married couple met through a mutual friend, she tells me. Initially, she was not interested in dating an athlete. "When I came here to do Gossip Girl, Nick had just started playing for the Yankees a few months prior. He asked me to come to a game and we talked till 4 a.m. I was like, Gosh, he's so positive and sunny and happy. And it's so genuine. It's so rare you meet a successful young man that loves his job and is grateful for it." A week into dating, Nick told JoAnna he only wanted to date her, he even changed his phone number so that she was the only girl who had it. Now that is commitment. Ten months after meeting they were engaged, and six months after that, in December 2010, they were married. She says she knew he was The One after he met her family. Her dad and Nick are actually the best of friends. "I really do value his opinion. And it's not that we don't fight or anything like that. We are a very real couple, but I admire him tremendously and how he walks through life. I feel really lucky to be married to him, raise kids with him, and do life with him. He's a good guy," JoAnna tells me, noting