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From the Heart and Other Safe Places

by Pamela E. Johnson

67 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-1001; ISBN 1-55395-287-1; US$23.50, C$29.98, EUR19.50, £13.60

A feast for your body and your spirit. Ideas and experiences shared through the age old tradition of letter writing and family recipes. Food for thought.

Read more!

about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book A feast for your body and spirit. The author's passions have always included entertaining. Whether it was writing letters about her adventures or entertaining in her home; she attributes her love of cooking to years of family gatherings full of love and sharing of ideas and experiences. This is truly a cookbook with a twist. We invite you to read her letters about life experiences and social issues. Please consider experimenting with some of the age old family recipes. Above all, let the book inspire you to reconnect with your friends and relatives. Start corresponding, become a pen pal to just one youth and let life's blessings continue.

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About the Author Pamela E. Johnson was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from the University of Denver and developing an interest in catering, she attended The Restaurant School in Philadelphia. There she received restaurant management and chef training certification and graduated with honors. Upon returning to Chicago, with her family's assistance and expertise, she started Notable Enterprises, Inc., an event planning business. Pamela has worked in the food management and event planning arena for over fifteen years. Her passions have always included entertaining family and friends. Whether it was writing letters about her adventures while away from home or entertaining in her home; she attributes her love of cooking and entertaining to years of family gatherings full of love and sharing of ideas and experiences. We invite you to read her book and share the recipes. This truly is a cookbook with a twist! A feast for the body and soul. We challenge you to become a pen pal to just one youth. It only takes one person to make a difference in this world. Today, as we reflect on our many blessings, we need to consider sharing our gifts with others. Please take the time to care. Writing is such a precious way to communicate. For more information, please go to the author's website.

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Excerpts and Table of Contents

Foreword

My dear friends and soon to be friends,letters are not easy to write. You find yourself putting things on paper that you would never say to a person face-to-face. They are the best way to express your true feelings. As most of you know, I have always enjoyed laying in my bed at night writing to my friends. Many of you have been the recipients of such mail.

Well,the computer age is upon us, and we do not see the use of the pen and ink as much as we should. The personal touch is dwindling. The thought of individuals not writing to each other concerns me. Please read the following correspondence and remember what it is like to share your thoughts with someone who cares. There is a bond between those who write letters and share ideas. It gives us fuel needed to live our complicated lives.

I started with a pen and paper and I will complete my thoughts the same. Please forgive the typed pages (Penny, thanks for your editorial assistance), time and the publisher's concerns led me to the computer. Trust me, the sentiment is from the heart and I will always share my ideas and most intimate thoughts. To prove it, some of our favorite family recipes are included.

Please remember, as you sample the recipes be sure to taste the mixture while you cook. A true sign of a good cook is the ability to taste and adjust the seasonings.

Letters

In Loving Memory
Forward
Introduction
Scratching The Surface
Trust Him
As The Leaves Fall
Now I Lay Me Down
Don't Touch That
Yes,I Have Gay Friends!
Are You Alright?
Married Men
What Now,Lord?
Memories
Never Owned A Dog
Caring Neighbors
A Slice Of Life
Deliverance
Prescription For Living
Precious Cargo
The Eating Never Stops
Say, Cheese!!
Shared Experiences
Lighten The Load
Leftovers
A Little Something Extra
A Love Like This
The Finish Line
Special Thanks To My Illustrators
Epilogue
Onward

Recipes

Shrimp Cocktail
Potato Rolls
Cranberry Relish
Potato Salad
String Beans
Sweet Potatoes
Macaroni and Cheese
Turkey and Dressing
Gravy
Roast Beef/Pork
Apple Cobbler
Pound Cake
Juices & Smoothie
Coffee
Fresh Fruit Salad
Pancakes
Lighter Breakfast Fare
Frittata
Club Sandwich
Garbage Salad
Turkey Hash
Garlic Bread
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cocoa
Peanut Butter Cookies

A Slice Of Life

I fell asleep writing. The sun is peaking through the curtain and I can see a thin orange line forming on the wall. Orange, what a wonderful scent, what a wonderful color. There is nothing like freshly squeezed orange juice in the morning. There is nothing like watching the sun rise as it explores the spectrum and shows us every shade of orange there is to see.

Did I ever tell you about the homeless boy that would come by the restaurant in the morning? He would always appear as we were emptying the trash,dumping the peels from the freshly made orange juice. He would refuse breakfast, but I noticed he would scurry to gather as many orange peels as he could carry. After I realized that he only wanted peels, they soon became sections and often entire oranges. He might have been too proud to accept breakfast, but giving him the oranges was my way of saying good morning. I was determined to feed him some way, some how.

It is funny, when I look back at it; he would appear just as the sun met the horizon. It was the prettiest light of day. There was an orange glow over the window that would shine brightly just before the boy came into full view. It was as if orange was the color, the scent that matched his soul. Today, as we go about our life, our mission, let us take a moment to think about life. What is your color? What is your scent? We take a slice out of life everyday. What is your flavor? What fruit will you bear in this lifetime?

Freshly Squeezed Juice

Grapefruit-Tangerine

2 chilled grapefruits
6 chilled tangerines
Peel the fruit and juice on a hand or electric juicer. Blend. Serve in chilled glasses
Makes 8 servings

Orange-Strawberry

16 chilled juice oranges
12 large chilled strawberries, hulled
Rinse oranges and cut in half; squeeze by hand and remove seeds with a spoon. Puree with strawberries in a blender. Serve at once in chilled glasses.
Makes 8 servings

From The Heart... And Other Safe Places

It is our annual family celebration... Well, if we are going to be truthful (literal) throughout these letters- it is really 1:30 in the morning- after the clean-up. Penny is playing hearts on the computer, and I decided to start sharing my thoughts and our family recipes. As you know or soon will know I have been in the food business for almost twenty years. I have collected and modified recipes forever and have often thought of publishing some of my favorites. But, I have worried about people reading them and saying, "She stole our recipe; oh, I'm going to call my lawyer". I am sorry if that is your issue. I have come to realize that recipes are like letters; they are just a bunch of words until you add your tender touch. Each of the following represents an age old recipe that has been modified as we prepare it year after year.

Mom, Dad, Penny, we have always been a unit. I thank God for my family, extended and all. Your love and generosity have brought me to this point. If the following letters touch other's hearts as I wish, I will continue to bear my load and pay my dues. If the recipes create new menus and family traditions,I can delight in sharing with others.

This book is dedicated to my family with love and blessings!

Pamela

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Catalogue Information

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