Victor Opalski is a long time resident of West Windsor and for fifty years ran an ice cream business in Trenton. His letters appear often in The Times and the West Windsor Plainsboro News. Victor and his wife Margaret are active in the community. Victor is a member of Keen Agers, PlayReaders and played saxophone in the Mercer County Symphonic Band, retiring from the band only last year. An extract from Victor's "Joy of Baking Cookies" was published in The Times Food section on Sept. 26, 2001 titled "Recipes for happiness" by Susan Sprague Yeske.

One hobby that Victor has enjoyed over the years is baking and donating cookies to his friends and neighbors. It might seem hard to believe, but Victor has baked and donated over 2,500 dozen cookies, all prepared in his home kitchen and delivered with a warm smile. In this book, Victor shares both a collection of cookie and family dish recipies that he has used over the years. But a even more interesting is the collection of stories that are included from his recollections over those days not long ago. Victor describes his material as "blue collar", since these stories are from his life experiences of working, observing,and enjoying life's offerings. Reading these stories is likely to spark memories for some readers and a moment of reflection for others as these vinettes from Victor's past are also fun to read.

If this book inspires others to share a part of their lives and thereby spread a bit of joy, then Victor's joy of cooking will have touched the community in another very important way.