"Cooking is like love.

It should be entered into with abandon or not at all." Harriet Van Horne

Oh, do I agree with that statement. I.love.food. I believe that meals should be thoroughly enjoyed, savored and discussed ad nauseum. My husband recently told me that "I'm too into my meals." I took it as a compliment. It was not intended as one. I didn't care.

I feel like food is my birthright. Everyone, specifically my dad's side (the Huba's), loves food. And we have an amazing ability to remember meals long after they are done. Food touches our souls, not just feeds it. Food resurrects our childhood. Make me a pound cake and I will think of my Nanny Huba. She used to make me a pound cake almost every visit to Peekskill, NY. And I loved them. And I absolutely adored her. Silver dollar pancakes, also a Nanny-specialty. She kept her bread in the oven and always had delicious New York cold cuts on hand. And I can't forget the Entemann's Crumb Coffee Cake. Again, a staple during our visits. Food doesn't always have to be homemade, but it does have to be quality in my humble opinion.

Food brings people together. Everyone has food in common. Yet food also sets us apart. Every family, culture, region has their specialty. Isn't that what makes traveling so fun? Trying new foods, exposing taste buds to something out of their comfort zone. Isn't that how we grow? Exploring, trying new things but always coming back to what we know best, a good (hopefully locally grown - plug) home cooked meal.

I could write about food all day, everyday. But think I should break to make my kid some breakfast. A cereal bar doesn't really qualify as a meal. Nope, she deserves a freshly blended smoothie and maybe I'll whip up some silver dollar pancakes as they never go out of style.

Here's to you Nanny. May you look down and feel relieved your "foodie" gene was successful passed. And your memory forever honored through recipes handed down and new ones tested out on my beautiful, food-loving family.

Peace. J