Happy Mother's Day!

I was flipping through one of the recent food magazines that I get and I saw an ad that struck me.  It asked “Why do you cook?” and it had a bunch of different reasons all around it.

The more I thought of about it the more complicated the answer seemed.   My mother always said “There are two types of people, people who eat to live and those who live to eat.”  And I know that the two of us are in the second category.   

Everyone has to eat and food provides a way to connect with people.  I use it as a way to connect to and show love for my family and friends.  I use it as a way to be closer to my mother and grandmother who taught me to cook.  I love using my grandmother's recipes from her cookbook when I miss her because it provides a connection to her.

And some day I will cook for and with my daughter as a way to connect with her.  I’ll be able to teach her the same recipes and show my love for her in the same way my mother and grandmother did for me.

  

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, mother-like figures, moms to be, and potential mothers trying so hard to have a child. 

To celebrate Moms everywhere – here is a super easy fresh dessert. 

Puff Pastry Berry Tart

-One sheet of defrosted puff pastry

-Pastry Cream – I like Martha Stewart’s recipe found here

-Fresh berries

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2) Roll out the puff pastry to a rectangular shape.  Score about a half inch from the outside for a crust and poke multiple holes in the middle to keep it from rising too much. 

3) Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes.

4) Prepare the pastry cream (or even some sweetened cream cheese or sweetened mascarpone cheese, depends on your taste and what you want.)

5) Let the baked puff pastry cool completely, then topped with the pastry cream. 

6) Top with fresh berries.  I chose strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.

7) Enjoy and celebrate Mom!