Diana McGrane’s journey into music begins from a place of love and a deep belief in our shared humanity. At our core, we’re all the same. We’re all human; that simple truth is reason enough to love and respect one another. If we lead with love, the world would be a much better place. Inspired by that message, and her latest EP release, Wondering, I was moved to create a classic Mexican dish: Chile Relleno. Check out the recipe below!

Diana’s love for music began at an early age. She vividly recalls being five years old when Harry Nilsson’s “Without You” came out. She was completely captivated by the song, lying on her stomach in her room with the phonograph in front of her, playing the record on repeat and memorizing every single lyric. She was fascinated by clever lyrics and catchy melodies. That moment became her first real memory of falling in love with a song. Music remained a constant presence throughout Diana’s life. She participated in school musicals, sang in the middle school choir, and pursued music as a hobby during high school. Still, she never imagined it could be more than that. Like many of us, she felt the pressure to choose a practical path, so she became an educator and worked for many years as a teacher. Her passion for music was set aside, though she continued to sing and play guitar in private. Then, about five years ago, something reignited inside her. Diana realized that when a dream lives in your heart and refuses to fade, it’s only a matter of time before it calls you back. After 15 years away from it, years spent as a devoted mom, wife, and working woman, she picked up her guitar again. And just like that, the songs started pouring out, as if they’d been waiting patiently inside her all along. One of those songs found its way into an open mic on Zoom during the pandemic. The event was hosted by a woman whose husband, Michael Baber, an Emmy-winning sound editor known for his work on Battlestar Galactica, Lord of the Rings, and more, happened to overhear Diana singing. The next day, he sent her a track he had produced using her voice from that performance. Hearing her song fully produced for the first time was a transformative moment. She was stunned and completely hooked. It felt meant to be.

What makes the story even more serendipitous is that on the day of that Zoom open mic, Diana’s power went out. In a scramble, she ran across the street to her neighbor’s house, desperate to borrow electricity. That neighbor, whom she’d known for 20 years, offered not just power, but something more: she was a classically trained vocalist. On a whim, she asked if Diana wanted her to harmonize. She’d never even heard her voice before. But as soon as they started singing together, it was magic. Her neighbor’s harmonies became the perfect finishing touch, “the frosting on top,” as Diana says. That night, something clicked. It was as if the universe was giving her a sign: this is what you’re meant to do. And from that moment on, she started doing exactly that. Diana was surrounded by world-class talent, supporting her creative journey and helping bring her songs to life. It’s been a beautiful and unexpected blessing, unfolding organically after years away from practicing her musical craft.

Diana’s return to music has been nothing short of extraordinary despite the break, especially with such high-caliber musicians and producers by her side. Listeners can sense the influence of artists like Ambrosia, Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately”, and Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight”. Diana truly shines when telling love stories through song. Her strength lies in heartfelt ballads and deeply human themes of relationships, emotional connection, and the soul of experience. You can hear it in her sound, the professionalism, the richness of the production, and the emotional energy in every track. Her music feels anything but amateur. Her recently released full EP, Wondering, which dropped on February 19th this year, features four tracks, including songs like “The Waiting Game”, “Wholesome”, and “Wondering” that are my favorites. The EP showcases Diana’s soft folk energy and duo vocals from CJ Wallace, along with beautiful lyrics and instrumentals. Diana’s sound blends soulful folk-pop, though it defies easy categorization. At times, you’ll catch a retro 50s era vibe mixed in as well. I can’t believe this is her first EP release, it’s so good. There’s also a lyric video for “Wholesome”, which is a must to check out as well.

Looking ahead, Diana already has 15 more songs ready to go. The hardest part is choosing what to produce next, but she’s eager to dive into the next project, whether it’s recording a new album or performing live. L.A. has proven to be the perfect stage for her to share her music, and last year, she even performed alongside Michael Orland, the former musical director for American Idol. For Diana, this journey isn’t about chasing stardom, it’s about fulfilling a deep-seated love for music. It’s like someone who plays pickup basketball well into their 40s and 50s not for glory, but for the sheer joy of the game. That’s what music is to her. She’s passionate, dedicated, and driven by the dream of being a songwriter. With a deep appreciation for country music, Diana is ready to keep writing, recording, and sharing her heart with the world. 

The core message she wants to share with her fans is simple yet powerful: love is the answer. She truly believes that love has the power to solve many of the world’s problems. As she grows older, that truth becomes even more evident to her. 

The more we recognize the love and kindness in one another, the more we grow, individually and collectively, as better human beings.

Many of the songs she wrote during the pandemic were inspired by the pain she felt witnessing the racial conflicts and discrimination that surfaced so heavily during that time. It deeply hurt her to see such division, especially when, at our core, we’re all the same. We’re all human beings, and that shared humanity is what motivates her to keep writing songs centered on love and compassion. Even when she writes from a place of anger, perhaps about being wronged or witnessing pain, those songs are still rooted in love. She often draws from her own life or the experiences of others, instantly connecting to the emotion and turning it into something meaningful. At the heart of it all, her music is about understanding what love truly is. And if people can open their hearts to that concept, she believes we can make real progress as a society. To her, love isn’t just romantic, it’s a force that can heal relationships, address social injustices, and create real change. If we all embraced love a little more, the world would be a far better place. That belief is woven throughout her music, where themes of love and hope consistently shine through. We can’t wait to hear more music from Diana McGrane as she follows her heart. Check out Wondering on all streaming platforms! 

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When it comes to food, Diana was born in California to Mexican parents, and while she grew up in an American culture outside the home, her household was steeped in Mexican tradition. Her mother cooked authentic Mexican meals daily, and Diana often helped, learning dishes that now keep her mother’s memory alive, especially her favorite: Chile Rellenos made with roasted poblanos, cheese, and egg batter, served with rice and beans. Other favorites include enchiladas and potato tacos, true comfort foods for her. Diana’s husband, who grew up in Texas and is an avid cook, prepares most of their dinners. He’s passionate about a wide variety of cuisines, including barbecue, steak, chicken, Italian, and more. For daily meals, Diana follows a light, healthy routine during the day: a protein bar in the morning (with just dates, nuts, and maple syrup), and a lunch of hard-boiled eggs with raw veggies like cucumber, radish, and peppers, or occasionally a tuna sandwich with pepperoncinis. This helps her maintain energy and weight without feeling restricted to freely enjoy the amazing meals her husband prepares for dinner. When it comes to sweets, Diana has a soft spot for sour candy: Sweet Tarts, Sour Patch Kids. Anything tart is her weakness. She’s less into ice cream (though her family loves it) but adores cherry and key lime pie for their tangy flavor. She also enjoys unique snacks like plain potato chips topped with lemon and cayenne, and she always keeps tahini on hand for fruits like mangoes and apples.

Her music, especially songs like “Wholesome”, reflects the same warmth and simplicity she values in home and food: love, comfort, and nostalgia. Inspired by that, I chose to make Chile Rellenos as a tribute and the emotional connection food can bring. While cooking, I had her song “The Waiting Game” playing on repeat, and it helped guide the warmth and color I wanted to express in the dish. Check out the recipe below and enjoy a taste inspired by Diana’s heart and heritage. 

Chili Relleno Recipe

Ingredients

For the Chiles:

• 4 large poblano peppers
• 8 oz Oaxaca cheese cut into strips
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 cup flour (for dredging)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil for roasting
• Vegetable or canola oil for frying
• Fresh cilantro, chopped for garnish
• Cotija Cheese, for garnish

Tomato Sauce: 

• 4 ripe tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 medium onion, quartered
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
• Salt to taste
• 1 cup water

Directions

1. Heat the oven to broil. Rub all the peppers with the 1 tablespoon of oil, as this will help prevent them from sticking.  Using a baking pan, line it with aluminum foil and place your peppers on the baking pan. Adjust your oven rack to the highest level.
2. Place the pan in the oven and roast the peppers until they are blistered for about 4 minutes on each side.
3. Place them in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap or use a ziplock bag. Let the peppers steam for 10 minutes. This will make it easier to peel the skin later.
4. Carefully peel off the charred skin, then make a slit down the side of the peppers about halfway from the top and bottom of the peppers. Do not cut to the bottom of the pepper. Remove the seeds.
5. Insert strips of cheese into each poblano through the slit. Gently press the edges together to close.
6. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
7. In a separate bowl, lightly beat the yolks, then gently fold into the whites with the tablespoon of flour and salt.
8. Lightly dredge and coat each stuffed pepper in the cup of flour.
9. Then dip each pepper into the egg batter, coating completely.
10. Heat about 1 inch of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
11. Fry each pepper until golden brown, turning once (about 2-3 minutes per side). Drain on paper towels.
12. In a medium saute pan, add one tablespoon of oil and roast the tomatoes, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until the tomatoes begin to blister.
13. Using a blender, pulse the tomatoes, onion, garlic, and water until smooth.
14. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and simmer for 10 minutes, seasoning with salt to taste.
15. When ready to serve, spoon tomato sauce on the plate, top with the fried pepper, cilantro, and Cotija cheese. Serve with rice and enjoy!