We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook: A Mom And Daughter Dish About The Food That Delights Them, And The Love That Binds Them

Description

Becky Johnson and her daughter Rachel Randolph come from a long line of laughter. The female side of her family tree is dotted with funny storytellers, prolific authors, hospitable home cooks, and champion chatters. In We Love, We Laugh, We Cook, Becky---a butter and bacon loving mama---and Rachel---a vegan bean eating daughter---share stories of their crazy, wonderful, and sometimes challenging lives as Rachel becomes a mother herself. Becky is messy; Rachel craves order. Becky forgets what month it is; Rachel is an organizational genius. (At least before baby arrives.) Sprinkled throughout are the lip-smacking, nourishing recipes they love to make and share. From food for a family reunion of thirty, to lunch for a party of one in a high chair, to a hot meal for a sick friend, the authors demonstrate grace, acceptance, and love to others through the bonding gifts of humor, attentive listening, and cooking ... whether diners prefer beef or tofu in their stew.

Reviews

Johnson, author of a number of books on subjects ranging from family humor to brain science, and Randolph, her grown daughter, team up in this quirky memoir with recipes, Johnson, diagnosed with Inattentive ADD, is scatterbrained, sloppy, and disorganized, while Randolph likes her ducks in a row. Organization was my form of teenage rebellion,' writes Randolph, while her mom admits that during these years, the smoke alarm often served as the dinner bell. Johnson is a self-proclaimed bacon and butter lover; Randolph is vegan. The authors toss anecdotes back and forth throughout the folksy chapters, sharing stories of a loving family in which 'hospitality is a way of life.' Between slices of life, the mom-daughter duo offers an eclectic array of recipes (main entrees, sides, appetizers, soups, desserts, etc.) ranging from spicy puttanesca sauce to cashew queso and roasted-corn bean salsa (Randolph is lives in Texas, while Johnson resides in Colorado). Recognizing that many contemporary families, like theirs, include members with varying dietary preferences and needs, the authors provide instructions on how to alter recipes to please and appease vegetarians, vegans, and the gluten- free. Amusing, endearing, and spiced with a close mother-daughter bond, the authors interweave their humor and cooking advice with sincere gratitude for the blessings of breaking bread with family and friends. -- Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly

Author description

Becky Johnson is the author, co-author or collaborator of more than forty books ranging from family humor to brain science to inspiration and now, memoir. She's a natural storyteller and spent many years entertaining and inspiring audiences of women. Today she loves getting creative in the kitchen and writes a humorous food blog with her daughter Rachel (www.welaughwecrywecook.com). She and her husband, Greg, live in Denver, Colorado and love spending time with their grown children and their growing families -- especially their five fabulous grandsons. Rachel Randolph writes and speaks about young married life, parenting a toddler, and her and her husband's unlikely journey to veganism with humor and honesty. She shares a food blog with her mom, Becky Johnson. In their 'virtual kitchen' laughter and love are the key ingredients to every dish. Rachel is married to Jared, a high school football and baseball coach. They live near Dallas, Texas with their little boy Jackson. www.welaughwecrywecook.com