Today started as any other day, with the exception that today, I was getting a typewriter to start my cookbook. On May 10, 2013, my wife was looking for a recipe for a jalapeno quiche to prepare for Mother's Day, May 12. As my wife was looking for this recipe, she looked through this big pile of papers. She made a "throw-away pile" and a "keep pile." I had an "aha" moment, much like Oprah has from time to time; most of you can relate too. My thought was something like, This one man's trash is another man's treasure, recipes that endearing clients and friends had given us throughout the years. And as I picked up the pile and looking and reading through the recipes, this flood of memories surrounded me; the pile she has gathered is 90 percent recipes. I am one short of 100. Wow!

The cover of this work was painted by the artist:

Annabelle C. Doan