I give props to our local restaurant for generously sharing their original recipe on their website. Thanks Maggiano! Continuing our Second Chance Cooking Lessons, Rachel and I prepared a new dish together. She did most of the work. She doesn’t care for mushrooms and I adore them, so I took it upon myself to prepare the delicious combination of mushrooms, onions, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and simple salt and pepper. These could be enjoyed on their own or used in other dishes.

There’s good news and there’s bad news. Which do you want first? Bad news, of course. Unlike my sweet kindred spirit, Robin, I apparently failed miserably to teach my children to cook. Mind you, some of them can cook if and when they decide they WANT to (or can work around their chaotic life being a single mom and working nightshift) ... and the others can make a couple select things. When I say select I really mean the foods they really want and mama not around to fix if for

Giving thanks for - the luxury of a vacation. Safe travel for our daughter returning home after her week at the beach. Sunblock. Blue skies, clear water, amazing clouds, sandy beaches, the sound of gentle waves washing on shore, waking up to a beautiful day. FaceTime. Outside my window - the Gulf of Mexico, sandy beaches, couples walking along the beach together, a fishing boat just off shore, clear skies, grass and flowers native to this area, so different from what we’re us