[cucinamaria]

Klara,

My children are 19, 17, 15, 14, 12, 9 and 7 and some of them cook, but they'd much rather I do it! They do feel fortunate to come home from whatever they're doing to a busy kitchen, wonderful smells, and to have 3 meals a day around a table with the family. It is truly a luxury to have most of our family members (one is in college) at home for most meals, even my husband. It's not always like that and we are all appreciating this luxury while it lasts.

I am not naturally organized but have had to become somewhat so as our family has grown. There are things I don't do very well, but good food at regular times is one of my priorities so that gets done pretty well, most of the time. Regular eating and prayer as a family hold us together even under really difficult circumstances and when we weaken there, chaos ensues. There are plenty of things I don't do well and would like to do better, but cooking is my passion and it keeps my family happy!

Where in Israel do you live? I grew up overseas; Istanbul as a child, then Rome, some time in Germany, Austria and Iran. I wanted very much to go to Jerusalem when I left highschool (so many years ago!) but that never happened.

I'm supposed to be organizing our much-neglected files (one of my weak points), gotta get busy.

Mary