Would you believe me if I told you the woman in this photo was just 3 months away from her 76th birthday on the day it was taken?

My mother always defied her age on the outside, but it was her infinite energy, drive and general engagement in life that made her eternally youthful on the inside.

I adore this picture of her, taken in Aix the year before she passed away.  She looks so happy and the colors are equally cheerful.  We were on a family trip that she planned to Provence and Paris, a city that was very special for the two of us.

In 2014, I launched The Kitchen Scout on Mother’s Day weekend in her memory.  Here’s a letter I wrote to her here on the blog two years later.  It’s hard to believe four years have gone by already since this adventure began – wow.

The Kitchen Scout is a blog, but it is also a website.  I know many of you read the blog through the weekly emails, but am not sure how many of you engage with the website as well!  There you will find every post published since 2014.  The website has a new look and we have reorganized and expanded the tool bar so posts are easier to find.  We have also improved the Recipe Index, making it easy to search for recipes by categories.  We are still working out some of the kinks and once it is completely finished, I will do a post to show you the inner workings.

You can take a look at our progress so far by clicking on www.thekitchenscout.com.

In the meanwhile, I want to wish all the moms out there a very special day this coming Sunday.

And if anyone is cooking for their mother this weekend, here are a few suggestions!  Enjoy!

Blackened Salmon Nicoise Salad

Grilled Asparagus & Beet Salad

Farro, Citrus & Arugula Salad

Salmon with Orange Marmalade & Thyme

Sausage, Corn and Spinach Frittata

Scallops Au Poivre with Broccoli & Cauliflower Rice

Sweet Potato Nests & Eggs

Until next time…