COURTNEY Roker Laga, the daughter of famous meteorologist Al Roker, has revealed her next book with her father will soon be available in libraries after being put “on the back burner” during his illness last year.
Al‘s eldest daughter spoke exclusively with The US Sun about her next project with her father and the newest addition to the Roker family: her beautiful daughter Sky.
Courtneywho has been developing recipes and cooking professionally for over a decade, said his and Al’s cookbook does not yet have a release date after the project was temporarily suspended.
Today Fans of the show will remember that Al was hospitalized in late 2022 after dealing with a blood clot issue.
He then suffered ulcers in December, and the weatherman did not return to Today until January of this year.
Due to Al’s Scary Health FearCourtney, 36, explained: “The cookbook was put on the back burner, and our priority at the time was my dad’s health and his mental health and everything else.”
While Al was in the hospital, Courtney received the news that she and her husband, Wesley Laga, were expecting.
“I think being pregnant with Sky motivated him and made him happy during that stressful time and afterwards.
“It made him very happy and he couldn’t wait to have a granddaughter at that time.”
For now, Courtney believes that book will be available on shelves in fall or winter 2024.
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The chef, who has worked in two Michelin-starred restaurants so far, added: “It will be a family cookbook. I developed the recipe and styled all the photos in the book.”
“Some recipes remind us of our family members like my grandmother, my sister and what she likes, what Deb likes,” she added of her sister Leila and her mother-in-law, ABC presenter Deborah Roberts.
“There are no exact written recipes, they are just interpretations of what we like.”
Al’s special role in the bookas Courtney explained, told the stories behind the food.
“When it comes to stories, my dad is a pro. So he can recall different things from his life and that’s mainly his role in this book, the stories and what it reminds him of.”
Courtney said the project was even more special because she pregnant while working on it with Al.
In May, Al spoke to the US Sun about the anticipated book.
At the meteorologist’s induction into the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame, Al said, “I’m working on a new family cookbook called the Roker Family Cookbook, with my oldest daughter who is expecting our first grandchild,” the proud grandfather of- be said at the time.
As Al explained, “It’s kind of like our family recipes and it’s coming out next year.”
Courtney added, “They’re our family and friends, and we talk about their recipes with chefs that my dad loves too.”
JOURNEY TO MATERNITY
Courtney, who recently opened up about her pregnancy and delivery at Holy Name Medical Center in their magazine, said she encountered some unexpected challenges.
The new mom said that before her pregnancy, she thought she was in relatively good health.
“I wasn’t working out every day, but there really wasn’t anything wrong with me. Then once I got pregnant, this high blood pressure came out of nowhere.”
Al’s daughter added: “I was adopted, so I don’t know much about the history of my lineage.”
Her care at Holy Name in Teaneck, New Jersey was top-notch, she explained.
“The high blood pressure was a major problem because we had to deliver him a month early and I’m glad we did because God forbid something happens.”
For now, Al’s daughter is enjoying her new role as a motherand soak up every moment.
“She smells like baby powder all the time and I don’t put baby powder on her.
“She also has sass,” Courtney added, “and she definitely gets it from her mom.
“When she meets someone new, she gives them a sideways look like, ‘Who are you?’ and that’s what I prefer.”
