The Dedication

I think it is important to tell you all about the woman that sparked and fostered my love for cooking. Before there were blogs or Food Network, my Bubbie (my late grandmother) was my first culinary instructor. Cooking, for my Bubbie (and subsequently me), was not just about putting ingredients together to create something. She showed me that cooking is an expression of the soul. And preparing food was not something you did lightly. You prepared food for your loved ones and the care you took in preparing the food was a true reflection of that love.

My family and I laid this magnificent woman to rest one month ago. She lived a full life and she was loved by countless people. I miss her so much but I am learning to find comfort in the memories we shared.

The month of December was extremely demanding for me so I have not been able to cook much nor have I had time to post. Things are finally starting to settle down in my life so the first thing on my mind this morning was cooking some food for the week. This morning as I started to put a few things in my crock pot (turkey necks to season the water for a stew) I had a moment where I reached for my phone to call her to get her opinion about something. And I realized, that she would not pick up if I dialed her number. I paused for a minute, thought about what she was say, and continued to prepare my meal. My family has started calling me Little Bubbie, which is an honor I sincerely hope to uphold.

All that being said, I decided to dedicate my blog to my Bubbie because without her I would not be as passionate about cooking as I am today.

Hope your year is off to a great start! I have some exciting dishes and cooking adventures planned for 2013! Salud!