I simply love to cook simple things at my place. When the result is has good or even better that the commercial "version " or the fine restaurant version, and only for a small fraction of the price that I would pay in those places, I simply feel like I won a trophy! Ahahah I can relate to that :)
I miss this big family meetings. By now I only have my mother and my brother. The rest of the closest family members already departed, or live abroad, and it is very rare to meet each-other. I love Xmas and New Years time because it recalls me those great family gatherings!
By the way: Love the selfie foto! It would be a true "landmark" in your family :)
All us siblings live locally and we're on the 3rd generation now, so even normal gathering involves a lot of people.
Hopefully you can have a big family gathering with those from aboard very soon, I can imagine your mum would love it