First and foremost, I’d like to thank the many lovely ladies (and a few gents) who have become part of the Mom’s Kitchen Handbook community. I so appreciate you tuning in, sharing recipes, swapping stories, and participating in this effort to nourish our families with good food and heaps of love.
To my girlfriends who support and inspire me every day, including Suzanne Bergeron, you always keep me grounded and help me remember that not every home cook has a Japanese mandolin or collection of exotic salts. Alison Eastwood, my fellow dietitian and longtime friend, you read and edited every page despite three little ones underfoot. Alyssa Ure, the design talent behind my blog, you always keep me on my toes in the pretty department. Leigh Oshirak, you have gone way beyond the call of duty to help out a friend. I will absorb every ounce of professional brilliance you are willing to throw my way.
To my three stalwart recipe testers and their children: Claire Bobrow, Jane MacKay, and Pam Rupright, you always received my recipes with enthusiasm and gave me honest feedback and delicious ideas. I’m also grateful to the handful of other recipe testers who pitched in.
To Kate Haisch, my nutrition intern. I so appreciate your research and feedback, and I love that you managed to do it all with a baby on your hip.
To Sara Catalan, who kept me company in the kitchen, tested my recipes, and kept an eye on my brood as I worked to pull this project together.
To Carole Bidnick, my agent. I’m so very grateful for you, who took on my tiny project and never made me feel less important than any of your big-name clients. I always feel like you are in my corner.
To the team that brought this book to life: Bill LeBlond at Chronicle Books, you seemed to know I had something to offer long before I knew it myself. Amy Treadwell, my editor, you gently walked me through this first book with such patience. Jennifer Martiné, fab photographer, you were so warm, welcoming, and fun to work with. To all the other folks at Chronicle: Alice Chau in design, Doug Ogan and Claire Fletcher in managing editorial, Jane Tunks in copy editing, Tera Killip in production, and the publicity duo of Peter Perez and David Hawk.
To Marion Nestle, I will never forget being summoned by the dean of the NYU nutrition department and told I had talent as a writer. It was just the boost of confidence (and connections) I needed to send me on my way as a food writer, a career I love.
Much gratitude to Sarah Copeland, mom, cookbook author, and friend, you inspired my whole Mom’s Kitchen Handbook journey just by being your lovely and talented self.
To all the wonderful cooks in my family who’ve taught me what I know, most especially my fabulous parents, my megatalented siblings, and all my beloved aunties. A special thanks to my sister-in-law Alison Sullivan, pastry chef extraordinaire, whose fingerprints are all over my desserts.
And of course, to my hubby, Joe (a.k.a. “Mr. Mom’s Kitchen”): my number-one fan, enthusiastic diner, and always willing unpaid editor. Thank goodness one of us knows their way around a grammar rulebook. I love you.
Saving the best for last, I’m most especially grateful to my three spectacular daughters—Isabelle, Rosie, and Virginia—without whom I would never know how to write a lunch-box book. You are the best critics, taste testers, and cheerleaders I could hope for. I’m one lucky mom.