Traci Tucker-Cortez is our TriangleMom2Mom mom of the week. I met her this summer as I did stories about the new plans for All Children's Playground at Laurel Hills Park in North Raleigh. It's an exciting project that involves pulling down the old playground, built almost 20 years ago, and replacing it with a new one that's geared toward children with special needs but fun for all to plan on.

Traci will tell you more ....

Mom2Mom: Tell us about yourself.

Traci: My husband Alvaro and I have a 3-year-old son, Sebastian, who started preschool this fall. I am the Development Director at Frankie Lemmon Foundation, a non-profit that raises money for The Frankie Lemmon School, a tuition-free preschool for children with developmental delays.

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

Traci: All Children’s Playground at Laurel Hills Park and community center! It is serendipitous for me that Frankie Lemmon is serving as the fiscal agent for the new playground that will be completed at Laurel Hills in May 2011. It will be a state of the art all inclusive play space for children with disabilities and typically developing children to share together. I feel so fortunate to be a part of such an amazing project that will be a treasure in our community for years to come. There will be a programming component that is being developed simultaneously with the design that will provide various activities outside of school for the children at Frankie Lemmon as well as other special needs children in the Triangle. Go to www.sassafrasplay.org for details.

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

Traci: I enjoy going to the farmers market or to antique stores. My favorite is Revival Antiques on Capital Blvd. If I had to pick one spot, it would be at home with a good book!

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

Traci: Every Sunday we head to the Blue Ridge Restaurant at the NC Museum of Art for brunch. The food is fantastic and it has an indescribable elegance about it but at the same time is welcoming to kids. The only thing that is wrong with it is that it will be closed for the next 6 months while the museum moves into their new building! I hear Poole’s Diner has an amazing Saturday brunch…

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

Traci: Homemade soup! My husband is South American and his mother has taught me how to make good, healthy, homemade soups.

Chicken Breasts with skin
Cilantro
Carrots
Celery
Green onion
Salt and Pepper
Chicken bouillon
Corn on the cob
Red potatoes

Cover the chicken with water in a big stock pot and add first 6 ingredients. Once you have a good chicken flavor take the chicken breasts out and place in a bowl and let cool. Take out everything else and add potatoes until done. Add corn and cook for 15 minutes. Tear the chicken into strips and add to the soup. Serve with cilantro, capers and sour cream.

Mom2Mom: What's your guilty pleasure?

Traci: I love to book last minute trips for a weekend away with my husband. It is great way to get away for a couple nights and recharge!

Photo courtesy of Bogart & Bogart.

Know a mom we should feature? E-mail me. Go to www.trianglemom2mom.com/meet and check back here every Monday to see what other local moms are doing.