Giving Thanks

I never win anything. So, you can imagine my surprise last week when I won this beautiful "Give Thanks" centerpiece at a Thanksgiving brunch hosted by my daughter's Foods class. I took it as a sign that I'm on the right track with this post.

Five years ago, I started the practice of giving thanks for three things each morning during my prayer time. I usually review the previous day and pick anything that stands out to me. Sometimes, they're big things, like my husband receiving a good medical report. Oftentimes, they're little things, like hearing from an old friend. Even on the worst days, I've found I always have reasons to be grateful. (Hello, hot running water for my shower, plenty of food to eat, a heated home and loved ones who support me.) In fact, it's on those days that I realize just how blessed I really am. I don't take anything for granted.

Lately, so much of my gratitude involves this blog. So today, I'd like to share three things I'm thankful for regarding Cooking with Mamma C.

1. Mom

I want to publicly thank Mom for helping me nail down the family recipes. She puts up with my endless questions (here's a behind-the-scenes account of recipe documentation), my insistence on details and my continuous flow of ideas. I really couldn't produce half of the recipes here without her.

Moreover, I owe my culinary interests to Mom in the first place. She was always cooking and baking while I was growing up, and although I mostly hung around the kitchen to lick the beaters, I still learned a great deal through observation. And what an example she set of putting a good meal on the table every single night for us, even when she worked full time. (Let's face it, that's no small feat — no matter how much you like to cook.)

Thanks, Mom. You're the best. (Isn't she beautiful? She's 73.)

2. My Husband and Kids

I wouldn't have started this blog if I didn't have the support of my husband and kids. They're my taste testers, my photo judges (I'm always asking, "Should I pick this one or that one?") and my patient bystanders while I take photos of food they'd rather dig into immediately. Most of all, they never question the time I spend working on Cooking with Mamma C. They just understand how much I enjoy it, and that means a lot to me. Thanks, guys. You're my reason for everything.

3. All of you

Yes, I mean you. Anyone who reads my blog, who takes the time to leave a comment, who goes out of the way to spread the word, or who likes or shares a post on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. I appreciate you so much. And those of you who have made one or more Mamma C recipes...you have no idea how honored I am. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Andrea

xo