A fun and eclectic cookbook from a fun and eclectic guy. This book is filled with delicious recipes paired with delicious wines and the commentary with each is hilarious The recipes are not only both personally created by the chef and donated by friends of the chef, but all have also been tasted by the chef All profits from the sale of this book go to the St. Jude's Ranch for Children in Boulder, Nevada for their continuing education fund for underprivileged children. Buon Appetito, let's pop a cork and get started The kitchen is in session How I Came to Know of St. Jude's Ranch for Children: I left a very solid position with the Bell System after almost 18 years in August, 1985, to pursue a dream of going into private business with a partner. With aspirations of hitting the big time, we ventured forward only to experience the oil bust of the late 80's and very challenging times. So what did I do? I did what usually happens during difficult times; I looked for religion after many years of only seeing the inside of a church on Christmas and Easter Sundays. The church was on my way home so I decided to stop by, what did I have to lose? I walked in and I was the only one in the church. I committed everything we had if I could get some kind of redemption from what we were experiencing. As I was walking out, I noticed a statue of a saint that I had never heard of, St. Jude. There was one sheet of paper at the base of the statue with a short paragraph telling his story; a prayer to pray as a novena that was to be prayed six times per day; a copy of the prayer was to be brought to the church each day during the novena. I would swear on a pile of wine corks that it was not there when I walked in. It also stated that if St. Jude answered the prayer, you had to give back in some way. A short time passed and I was able to get out of the situation with very minimal losses; I got on with a company expanding in the Houston area; I never missed a pay check; and as they say...the rest was history. Some weeks or months later we received a pamphlet from St. Jude's Ranch for Children from Fr. Ward telling about the Ranch and their mission. Never heard of St. Jude's Ranch, so I chunked the pamphlet in the trash without a second thought. Several weeks passed and once again there was a pamphlet in the mail from Fr. Ward and the Ranch. Why all of a sudden were we getting this junk mail? Again, I was about to chunk the pamphlet in the trash when it hit me like a 2x4 across my forehead. I had made a commitment to St. Jude in return for his help and my wife, Sherry, and I have now been supporting St. Jude's Ranch ever since. I published my first cookbook in July, 2005, and passed out about 500 copies to friends, neighbors, and family asking for donations to the Ranch. It is Sherry's and my dream to have Salud to Food and Vino II (the 2nd Edition) be an overwhelming success so we can help provide vocational training and/or assist with continuing education for the graduating seniors so they can have a means to carry them on in life when they leave the facilities. The ranch is NOT affiliated in any way with St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis, another outstanding charity recognizing St. Jude for his help, which was founded by Danny Thomas. St. Jude's Ranch is headquartered in Boulder City, NV, and has two other facilities in Bulverde, TX, and New Braunfels, TX. They take in children of every race and faith that are troubled, abandoned, abused, or are unwanted. They are in a parent-like environment in as much of a home type setting that can be provided. The children attend public schools and stay until placed or graduate from high school. All seniors graduated this past year for a 100% success rate which says much for their program. Unlike other more fortunate children with a positive home environment to help them along, these kid have no one other than the generosity of others...like you and me. Thanks for your support