Welcome Home. Isn't that what you want your family to feel the very second they walk in the door? Then this cookbook, Welcome Home: Recipes, Memories, and Traditions from the Heart, is for you ... and for them.            I've always believed that a home should be cozy, warm, and welcoming, with good smells coming from the kitchen. That's how it was during the years when I was growing up, and that's the kind of home I created for my own family. It's also the reason I wrote my book. I wanted to help other people achieve that warmth for their families. Welcome Home is much, much more than just a cookbook. In addition to a splendid collection of recipes, it is sprinkled with warm family stories and photographs from the past. And because I managed to survive many years of being a harried, crazed working mom, I've included what I call a "mini how-to manual" for busy parents who could benefit from all the secrets I learned through the years -- and believe me, I learned a lot. I provide sage advice about how to squeeze more out of your day, get a handle on the insanity of trying to do too much, and get more enjoyment from life. Welcome Home has 12 chapters, including Grandma's Mouth-Watering Creations, Mom's Farm-Style Cooking, Summer By the Shore, The First Day of School, The Magic of the Holidays, Surviving a Hectic Schedule, and The Beauty of Life, among others. There are more than 100 recipes for everything from fresh tomato/basil bruschetta to creamy seafood chowder, from my grandmother's incomparable apple pie and spicy molasses cookies to my very own rich, delicious cheesecake. There are also recipes for main dishes, soups, breads, desserts -- not fancy schmancy recipes, just good old-fashioned stick-to-your-ribs comfort food. People describe Welcome Home as warm and nostalgic, and they have thanked me for conjuring up good memories of days gone by. Many have said they were unable to put it down, and one reader remarked, "This is the first cookbook I've ever taken to bed." Ian MacDonald, a journalist from Belgium who reviewed it, said, "Finally, a cookbook written by someone who knows how to write." What better testimonials could an author ask for? Here are a few details: the book measures 9 1/2" high by 8 1/2" wide, and is double-loop spiral bound (wire, not the chintzy plastic binding) so it can lie flat on a countertop. At the end of each chapter there is a lined page especially designed for notes, which is perfect for jotting down recipes, notations, thoughts, or whatever. You see, I'm a cook so I know what cooks want in cookbooks. The cost for Welcome Home: Recipes, Memories, and Traditions from the Heart is $25.00, plus postage and handling of $5.00 (Priority Mail for United States shipping). The quickest way is to send $30.00 to pj@pjparks dot com (email address slightly altered to avoid spammers) via and I'll get your book in the mail right way. And if you need multiple copies, or have any questions, feel free to email me.