My new cookbook Eating Royally is now available in all good book stores as well as clicking on the photos here to order from Amazon.com. The book has over 100 recipes and 150 photos and Thomas Nelson the publishers have done an incredible job in putting it together.

I have donated my entire advance to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation and ALL of my royalties will go there too. Children and Aids were two of Princess Diana’s charitable goals and I thought donating to this charity would link both.

I remember so clearly the morning the Princess came into the kitchen clutching a piece of paper with the news of how many millions of dollars her dress auction had raised for charity and how excited she was. I’d like to think that if she had been here today she would have been thrilled that her recipes were being used to raise thousands of dollars for a children’s charity.

October 14 sees the launch of a fabulous, once in a life time experience that all Princess Diana fans will want to see. The Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala, Florida will be hosting Diana, Princess of Wales: Dresses for a Cause - An Event to Honor a Princess and Support a Breast Cancer Charity.

For the first time a reunion of Princess Diana’s famous Auction Dresses with a backdrop of museum-quality historical items will be on display October 14 – December 30. The Exhibit will reunite Dresses auctioned by the Princess just two months before her death. Each of these exquisite gowns has its own story that begins with when and where the princess wore it. It continues with the Christie’s Auction--who bought each dress; why they did so; and how they have continued to use their Dress and tells how each new owner has followed the princess’ example utilizing his or her Dress for charitable causes.

DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES: DRESSES FOR A CAUSE is an exclusive, one-time event that has taken six years of planning. It is the first time the participating Dresses have been reunited since the original Auction in June 1997. It is also the last time they will appear in public together. Organizers are calling this event “The Grand Finale to the Diana Year.”

As vice president of the charity, I will be appearing at the event hosting tea parties and cooking classes to raise money and the funds will be used on breast cancer programs at the Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala and The Villages Regional Hospital.

This is a totally volunteer organization with no paid staff or consultants. Most of us have full-time jobs and donate a large portion of our “free time” to assist with Pink Ribbons Crusade efforts.

I think the Princess would have been thrilled to see so many people pulling together and donating their time for free to raise money for such a wonderful cause – in her name.

Find out more by clicking here…

Many of you that visit my web site on a regular basis will already have heard of Edge Cookware through my blog. It is my new line of cookware and available not only online at Neiman Marcus but also, now in stores too. This photo was taken in the Dillard’s store in Louisville, Kentucky. You have to admit it looks pretty smart, not just the display, but the cookware too. Then of course there is that larger than life chef looking down on it from the poster (smiles)

Edge Cookware is the first line of cookware that combines quality with design. Its Tri-ply construction guarantees excellent results on the stovetop and in the oven and the handles feature a unique shape that give stability and control while providing the most comfortable handle on the market. Not only that, but the handles stay cool too during cooking. Of course, not if you put the pans in the oven – actually, if you think that they will remain cool after 2 hours in the oven at 400 degrees then you deserve to get burnt and shouldn’t be anywhere near a kitchen (laughs)

The cookware has unique features such as; inward sloping edges, exterior and interior mirror polished finishes to make them look beautiful even when not in use and perhaps hanging from a pot rack and best yet… they are dishwasher proof.

I now use these pans in my own kitchen and love them and check this out… If you buy a 17 piece set of Edge Cookware for only $299 you are eligible for a 3 night trip to Cancun… hang on, small print…. With the money you save by not buying All Clad… (laughs) See, that got you interested then didn’t it !!! Of course you don’t get a free vacation but it does put things in perspective. It does mean at just $299 you can afford a new set of cookware and still take that summer vacation. Then of course all of those summer weddings coming up, aren’t you going to be the brides favorite wedding guest when she opens a box of this beautiful cookware.

I have donated two fundraiser British Afternoon Tea Parties to Artreach and they will be at the Warwick –Melrose hotel in Dallas on August 19 and 26. The mission of Artreach is to ensure access to the arts and cultural events of our city for economically disadvantaged children and adults, the disabled and elderly.

I promise it will be a fun and memorable experience for all who attend and I will be in the Melrose kitchen rustling up clotted cream scones et al and then doing a presentation during tea. More soon on where to buy tickets.

Until next time...... Darren