Our featured mom this week is Alice Wisler. If you would like to be featured on Triangle Mom2Mom or know of any interesting mom's who would be interested, please send me an email.

Mom2Mom: Tell us about yourself.

Alice: I'm a missionary kid from Japan who now lives in Durham with my kids, new husband, and a computer that lets me write Southern novels set in North Carolina. Rain Song takes place in Mount Olive, How Sweet It Is is set in Bryson City and Hatteras Girl---well, the title tells you where that one revolves around. My books are inspirational women's fiction, although men read them, too.  I also teach online writing courses that pertain to grief.  Ever since my son Daniel's death in 1997 from cancer (he was at UNC-Chapel Hill Hospitals), writing has helped me and now I teach and speak about its many benefits.

Mom2Mom: What’s your favorite family place in the Triangle?

Alice: How can I choose just one?  For walks, I like the American Tobacco Trail, for beauty, Duke Gardens, for free outdoor concerts, Brightleaf Square, for taking the boat out, Falls Lake, and for food, family meals at Carrabbas and Red Robin on 15-501 in Durham are fun.

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite place for yourself in the Triangle?

Alice: I like to take my laptop and write at Bruegger's or meet a friend for coffee at Fosters'.

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite ritual with your kids?

Alice: I would have to say it's eating dinner together. This can be at home or out. If my kids have helped my husband and me cook part of the meal, eating is even more delicious.

Mom2Mom: What did you eat for dinner last night? Can you share the recipe?

Alice: We went out for dinner last night, so don't know the recipe for the Indian food I had.  However, one meal I like to make comes from my cookbook of memories I put together.  It's found on page 87 of Down the Cereal Aisle and submitted by Steven Shaw's mom in his memory.

Biscuits and Gravy

1 container of Pillsbury biscuits

1 pound of Jimmy Dean sausage

1/4 cup of margarine

1/4 cup of flour

2 cups of milk

salt and pepper to taste

Bake the biscuits per the instructions on the container.  While they are baking, cook the sausage (Jimmy Dean is the best to use) in a frying pan.

Make a white sauce by melting margarine and adding flour in a pan. Stir until smooth.  Add the milk and stir until bubbling. Add the drained sausage to the white sauce.  Serve over hot biscuits.

Mom2Mom: What's your guilty pleasure?

Alice: Watching a movie that needs a few tissues.