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I truly have been a blessed traveler. I survived all the trials that should have killed me in Cooking Disasters. I have had an equal amount of incredible moments that I wrote about in Cooking Wonders. Then, I went on to write about the memorable people who have crossed my ways in Cooking Along My Path. In that book, I wrote about maybe 25 people whom I'll never forget. Yes, I've had remarkable encounters. But, I've had more than just 25 unforgettable people in my life. I had to write Volume Two. There was no way around it. Cooking Along My Path 2 had to be compiled.
So, once again, I introduce you to people I've met on my life's journey. Some of these encounters date back quite a while. Others, not so much. I met some of these friends before I seriously started gathering recipes in my travels. Several people had to send me recipes for this book. I never claim to be any kind of success in the kitchen. My sister got those genes while I write, draw, and photograph. But, I must say, I've very pleased with the success I've had in creating these recipes and then photographing them for the book. I only collect recipes that I can actually make. None of them are all that difficult to whip up, but they have all tasted delicious -- even in my kitchen!
Shane Once again, my friends and recipes span the globe. Now, I know I have limited recipes from Asia and Australia in my cookbooks, and I've not painted murals in either location, but this time I do include something delicious from "Down Under" in my fourth book. I met Shane at breakfast in Gjirokaster, Albania. He loved my murals and I like all people who love what I do. We kept in touch, and when I had to fly to Australia to paint a mural in Nauru, I had to make a stop in Melbourne to eat well and see kangaroos.
Other recipes in this book come from Africa (Liberia, Morocco, Zambia, and Togo), Europe (Belgium, Finland, Romania, France, Moldova, and Estonia), the Caribbean (Belize, Haiti, Jamaica, and Costa Rica), South America (Peru, Ecuador, Brazil) and a few Assorted Pacific Islands (Indonesia, Nauru, and Fiji).
Marvin and Mau In the earliest days of my travels, I only wandered to locations where I had friends. It was fine. If they wanted to take me somewhere, I joined them. If they stayed home, I stayed with them. But, during my visit with friends in Costa Rica, I met Marvin and Mau. They are two of my most long-term international friendships, and they have been friends for decades. I'm delighted to include them in this collection. Both of them have added to my mural list. Marvin invited me to paint at schools in association with Earth University and Mau asked me if I wanted to paint with him at an orphanage in Nicaragua. You know that I accepted both invitations.
Veresa Part of my blessed travel includes divine protection from my guardian angels. I told this tale to some college students in Jamaica, and they were horrified! While in Fiji, I was desperate to sample a local drink called kava. I didn't know where to find it, and it certainly wasn't going to happen at the nice hotel that the U.S. Embassy put me in. But, a merchant at a souvenir shop said that he would take me to get some if I returned when he got off work. Of course, I did just that. However, I was a little suspicious when our taxi took us out of the city to parts unknown. I was assured by the Jamaican students that if I did that on their island, I could be robbed or killed. So far, I have been well-protected in my travels. This time was no exception. I tasted my elusive kava and lived to tell about it. However, I highly recommend that you don't follow this risky practice if you wander the globe like I do.
I have to do a lot more traveling before I can work on Cooking Along My Path 3. Of course, I'm always up for the adventure and my paint brushes are ready for murals in any corner of the globe. But, I think it is safe to say that it will be a while before any more recipes are compiled. Still, there are enough stories and recipes in these four books to satisfy any hungry traveler -- or wannabe traveler.