Writers from around the world responded to my call for stories about the joys of the kitchen. I thank each and every one of them profusely for their wonderful contributions. You'll find their names at the end of each story.
Once again, I was assisted in collecting the recipes, crafts, and other goodies for this book by Annette Madden. Thanks, my dear friend—I couldn't do it without you.
Appreciations are in order, too, to the able Red Wheel / Weiser / Conari folks who edit, design, market, and sell my work: Jan Johnson, Brenda Knight, Jill Rogers, Michael Kerber, and the sales and PR teams.
Last, but not least, I thank you, the reader, for being interested in the simple pleasures of life. The more of us who connect to the joys that are available to us in every moment, the happier we all will be.