Penzey’s

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When my daughters came home through adoption 3 years ago, there was something tangibly missing from their lives thus far.  They had, up until that point, be living in an orphanage.  A “good” orphanage, but an orphanage nonetheless.  Safe, fed, instructed but certainly not nurtured.  There was Mommy-ness missing from their hearts.  They understood Mommy more as a name, like Mary or George.  It was completely foreign to them that Mommy wasn’t just a name, or even a role.  It was something special.  She was an experience at each encounter.  Soft touches and warm kisses.  Sweet songs and kind tones.  Dancing eyes and big smiles.  Delightful perfumes and citrusy lotions.  And most importantly-food.  Delicious food.  A full variety of edible treats.  Mommy-food was not just meeting a need.  It wasn’t mundane or bland.  It delighted the taste buds and made theirs mouths water.  Now, I am in no way a chef.  Like most Moms, I cook mostly comfort foods consisting of pastas, soups, stews, etc.  Even these foods that I serve them, though, I want to be tasty.   Each night, I want them to ooh and aah and feel my love going down into their little tummies.  I want their to be a chasm between what they knew in those first few years of life and what they have now.

One of my secrets in preparing these meals is to use really great spices.  I learned very early on that people tend to salt their food because the spices that were used in the dishes aren’t really coming through.  They fall short in their delivery.  I have found one brand that is worth the special trip to its store.  Although Penzeys Spices is not a locally owned store, their only one in Arizona is tucked away right here in Scottsdale.  At the unassuming location on the southwest corner of Osborn and Hayden is this fantastic shop.  The products really are superior to anything you will find in the supermarkets, and the prices are comparable or lower! Since finding this store, I have been finishing up the spices in my cabinet and slowly replacing them with Penzeys.  It is so worth it.  My favorites are their varieties of Oreganos and the Vietnemese Cinnamon.  They also have great gift boxes that would be perfect for upcoming Mother’s or Father’s Day gifts.  It really is a Scottsdale treasure! Check their website, as this location will be moving shortly.

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Cate Johnson has been married to her best friend, Sean, for 10 years.  She is the mother to their three Haitian princesses who came home forever in 2008 and is currently in the process of adopting a son domestically.  She is passionate about Jesus, adoption, and attachment.  She also loves coming alongside prospective adoptive parents as well as those struggling through transition and attachment. Cate blogs about all of these topics and more at Gathered From Afar and Attaching Hearts

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Cate Johnson
Cate Johnson has been married to her best friend, Sean, for 12 years. She is the mother to their daughters who came home through international adoption in 2008. They also have a son that came home through domestic adoption in March 2011. The baby is another son, who is biological. Cate is passionate about Jesus, photography, writing and adoption and attachment. She also loves coming alongside prospective adoptive parents as well as those struggling through transition and attachment. Cate blogs about all of these topics and more at Gathered From Afar and Attaching Hearts.

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