GINA

I HAVE THAT BOOK AND I LOVE IT TOO. I WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU A BOOK FROM NEW ORLEANS......IT IS ONE I WROTE FOR MY CHILDREN AFTER MY MOTHER DIED. THREE OF MY FOUR CHILDREN NEVER KNEW MY MOTHER AND I WANTED THEM TO HAVE SOMETHING TO GET TO KNOW HER BY......SHE WAS FROM CENTRAL AMERICA...GUATEMALA CITY TO BE EXACT. WHEN SHE CAME HERE SHE COULDN'T BOIL WATER,,,,BUT WITH MUCH PERSERVERENCE AND A PERFECT MEMORY FOR THE FOODS SHE GREW UP WITH, SHE BECAME THE BEST COOK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF YOU WOULD E-MAIL ME YOUR MAILING ADDRESS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEND YOU A COPY. I DON'T WANT TO MENTION THE NAME OF THE BOOK HERE BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD VIOLATE BETSY'S RULES AND I WOULD NEVER WANT TO DO THAT!!

JUST READING THE STORIES OF YOU AND YOUR MOM REMIND ME SO MUCH OF MY OWN MOTHER....UNFORTUNATELY SHE DIED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE(50) AND SO I HAVE HAD TO RELY ON STORIES AND HER RECIPES TO KEEP HER MEMORY ALIVE.

I, TOO AM WHAT YOU WOULD CALL A FOODIE. I LOVE TO COOK, DO A BIT OF LIMITED CATERING FOR FRIENDS AND MAKE WEDDING CAKES AND ANNIVERSARY CAKES. NO RECIPE IS TOO HARD, TOO LONG OR TOO MESSY FOR ME. I ONLY WISH I HAD MORE PEOPLE AT HOME TO COOK FOR. THE KIDS ARE GETTING OLDER AND TOO BUSY TO EAT AT HOME EVERYNIGHT AND MY HUSBAND NO LONGER LIVES WITH US.....SO FOR A 13 YEAROLD SON AND MYSELF ....BIG DINNERS EVERYNIGHT DON'T MAKE MUCH SENSE.

MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS

BON APPETIT.....CHIQUI