Milk makes a meal complete

Each Wednesday, The Citizen features someone in the food services industry from the Finger Lakes community in The Banks:

This week, we spotlight Kelli Morgan.

Q. What is the one food you cannot live without? Why?

A. Milk. It's the one thing I have every day. Without it, no cheese, yogurt or ice cream? I grew up on a dairy farm and my husband is a dairy farmer; milk is our livelihood.

Q. Fill in the blank. People would be surprised to know that even though I work in the food industry, when I am at home in the kitchen, I __________.

A. Occasionally break out the Kraft macaroni and cheese and chicken patties for a quick meal that my kids like.

Q. If you were given $1 million to open your own restaurant, describe it and what type of food you would serve.

A. My restaurant would be a renovated farmhouse with a beautiful but casual atmosphere and outdoor seating when weather permits. It would feature Finger Lakes wines and family-style dinners, with many seasonal dishes to highlight the fruits and vegetables we grow. It would be finished with fresh fruit pies and homemade ice cream.

Q. Where would it be?

A. Somewhere in Cayuga County with a view of Owasco or Cayuga Lake, surrounded by gardens and fields.

Q. On the day of your restaurant's grand opening, if you could select anyone in the world to be your first three guests, who would they be?

A. I've always found it most rewarding to cook for family. I would want my husband (my best critic) and my two grandmothers, because they passed down the love of growing things and farmstands, and taught me how to bake pies, and they still garden and bake today!

Q. Describe your most embarrassing moment while working on the job.

A. At Half Acre, with a line of people waiting to get the first of the day's fresh sweet corn I jumped down from my muddy truck with a full bushel, landed on the edge of the concrete pad, sprained my ankle and spilled the corn everywhere.

Q. If you weren't working in the food business what would you like to be doing?

A. Landscaping or teaching.

Q. Ughh. What's the one food which you absolutely can't stomach? Why?

A. Sushi. I guess I'm a meat-and-potatoes girl.

Kelli Morgan

Age: 37

Hometown: Union Springs

Family: Husband Bill; son, Jacob, 13; daughters: Rachel, 10; Jessica, 5

Education: Cornell University

Occupation: Vegetable producer and owner, Morgan's Half Acre Produce, corner of West Genesee Street and Half-Acre Road, Aurelius

Hobbies: Canoe racing, home renovating and decorating