Sheila Lukins-In memory

For all of us learning to cook from The Silver Palate Cookbook, New Basics Cookbook, Cooking Around the World and many others written by Sheila Lukins... August 30th was a sad day. Lukins passed away after a 3 month battle with brain cancer at the age of 66.

My brother and sister-in-law gave me a copy of The New Basics Cookbook for my birthday in 1991. Inscribed on the first page... 'May you enjoy many wonderful gourmet delights'. Now tattered, torn, yellowed and sticky it has remained one of my most favorite cookbooks. Time and time again I have turned to it for inspiration, technique, and even art work. The spine is pulling apart from over use in the Bread and Cheese Please chapter... Yeast Breads.

One chilly afternoon my husband unexpectedly invited some friends over for an impromptu lunch (don't you just LOVE when they do that?). I grabbed the book in desperation and found on page 95 a recipe for Peanut Butter Pumpkin Soup. I had everything on hand except enough peanut butter (thanks to 3 kids and PB&Js). That didn't stop me, I went ahead and made the soup any way, but used only half of the peanut butter called for. It was a hit! Saved again! Whew!

Have you got a story to share? Have you made anything from these books? How did it turn out? Do you write in the margins of your cookbooks? What is your favorite recipe? Please take a moment to log in to your account and share with us.

Rest in peace Sheila... knowing that you have changed the way a lot of us cook and eat.

Deb