A bit of T.L.C.

I really wanted to make sure that I let everyone know how very important they are to me. First and foremost I must say THANK YOU to so many people. Most Importantly, my very wonderful husband Matt, who supports me in every way possible. It is because of him that I am able to have the time, resources and motivation to create this blog and the projects that go into each post along with many other projects along the way. He is so creative and always has the perfect ideas for great finishing touches and ways to make things work when I need him. His mother raised him well...and she is a very important part of this blog, too. Unfortunately, she passed away somewhat recently...we were all very close and we miss her very much. Her loss has left us longing for so many of her classic dishes, recipes that were never written down. This blog will undoubtedly have many postings recording our attempts to try and perceptibly reconstruct some of our favorite "Dolores Creations" from memory and taste flashbacks. I will also be trying to make more nutritionally valuable versions of many of the the foods from our childhoods. Growing up, we were both exposed to households who loved to cook and bake. That leads me to my parents and their families. Everyone around me growing up loved to CREATE. It was certainly my family that taught me to find inspiration in everything. They showed me that a pan is a palette and food is a medium-not to be wasted; that something can be created from nothing...and to find beauty in bareness. For my mother the most important ingredient always was and and still is T.L.C. (Tender Loving Care). To most, my parents are very unconventional, even to me me, perhaps...but they would just call themselves artists, and there is no better term yet, I suppose. Speaking of unconventional I must express my appreciation for my furry little muse and sidekick, Vincenzo, our dog who is there to keep me company for almost every second of every project. You will certainly read more about all of these people (and the pup) as the inspirations behind many future posts. In the meantime I would definitely also like to thank my friends and neighbors who are very supportive of my many random creative endeavors, a few of which have encouraged me to start blogging like Tracy, Catherine and Amaris. Lastly and very importantly, I simply must thank my Readers and Google Blogger, without you...how could we make all this happen? Where would we be without Family, Friends and Patronage! Slainte & A'Salute!