On this cold, crisp November day, I am grateful for Niccolo, Caterina, my husband, my parents, my wider family. I am grateful that we are healthy and have all we need. And most of all I am grateful because, despite work woes, gnawing parenting worries, and an unsettling sense of insecurity for the world’s financial and terrorism crises, we are managing to stay happy and have a laugh (well, most of the times, anyway).

On my table today:

fois gras with brioche

pumpkin soup with prosciutto

chicken with chestnut and bacon stuffing

spicy sweet potatoes

apple pie with vanilla ice cream

and the infamous, mutant cornucopia…