About the Author

Constance L. Hope, known to many as Connie or some even as 'Crazy Connie."

I was born and raised in a small borough in New Jersey called Metuchen. Or sometimes called "the Brainy Borough". I graduated from Metuchen High School in 1965 and am in the middle of trying to organize our 45th class reunion for 2010. Wow! Time has really flown by. And what a great time it has been.

As a child, I was always on a chair next to my mother cooking, baking or sometimes just making a mess. I loved to be by her side and help with any kind of cooking. I learned to create my own tomato soup creation from just a can of Campbell's and my imagination. I would add a little of this spice and that sauce and make my own concoction. My father was the tester. Bless his heart...some of the things, I dare say, were not that good. But as I grew, I learned more about herbs and spices and how to create different taste treats. I have cooked and catered dinner parties for myself and others. I have been involved with 'Mother of Twins' cookbooks and other cookbooks along the way.

Life has really been great for me. Oh, I have had a few ups and downs, but I have my health, my sense of humor and my smile. What else do you need.

After high school, I went to Union Junior College. "Uicy Juicy" as we called it, located in Cranford, New Jersey. After two years, I transferred to Trenton State College and went to school nights while I worked during the days.

I moved to Doylestown, Pennsylvania and married my high school sweetheart. So much for high school sweethearts!. I remarried several years later and lived in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania where I had three wonderful children. John, my oldest son, has done a lot of the art work for this book. Then I had twins, Jacob and Jennifer. Jacob has always said to me ,"Mom, you should write a cookbook because you make the best soups and side dishes ever." So I did write one. Jennifer, who is a lawyer, has helped me with some of the legal items about the book. They all grew up standing on chairs in my kitchen, helping me make cookies, or soup or homemade jellies and jams. Each with an apron on and flour or fruit all over them as well as on the floor.

Though the years, I have traveled a great deal and collected, tried, changed and created recipes from friends and acquaintances all over the world. Most recently, Hewitt, my partner of fifteen years, and proof reader for this book (Thanks!) and I moved to Fort Myers, Florida where the weather is warm, the fruit is abundant and the time was available for me to write and put together this cookbook. It has been 20 years in the writing, but is has been well worth the long creation time.

Cooking is something that you need to get into to really enjoy. I have always loved it and I have tried to instill this love in my children. I am now trying to instill that love in each of you who read this book. By reading and creating some of my favorite recipes, I hope you will make them your own. Good luck on your tasting journey.

Keep in touch and I will let you know when my book is published and for sale. The price will be in the $14.00 range. Check back to my blog or email me at conniehope4@gmail.com. Love to hear from you.