I made pies this week. Apple, pumpkin and chocolate cream.
When I got married, Mom had Mam-ma write out recipes for me and Mom did the same.
Pretty remarkable how making a pie or cake off a recipe with Mam-ma's or Mom's handwriting can bring comfort to my soul.
But is sure does. For a brief moment, I am in Mam-ma's kitchen with her. I can see her hands...hear her voice. "Always wash your hands when you are cooking. One time I was at a friend's house and she kept wiping at her nose while she cooked. I'nt that AWFUL!!!" She said it with mock disdain and a smile.
"oooooo I can't wait for everyone to get here..." and she'd go through the list of what she had made for each person...
... apple pie for Dad, coconut cream for Pat, german chocolate cake for Tommy, angel food cake for Tanner and Reese, and I can't remember the specifics for the rest of us...but Mam-ma sure could...
That was her self-appointed job. Providing sweet treats for each and everyone. She loved it so much. And you didn't hear us complaining...:-)
After cooking, Mam-ma would wash every dish ("I can't STAND a messy kitchen!"), pour herself a glass of iced tea, wrap a paper napkin around the bottom of the cup and sit in her chair to watch her "story". Or, if she wasn't too beat, she'd pull out the cards or Boggle and play a game with me at the kitchen bar.
We'd answer the phone for Granddaddy's lawn mower repair business, wait for Granddaddy to come in smelling of gasoline and oil, and maybe get to eat a "good 'ole sanwich" before Mom and Dad came to pick me up!
Good times.
Funny how pie recipes can bring all that back...
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! May your day be filled with wonderful memories and the makings of more to come!
4 comments:
Good memories, Cheryl. I know your family misses having you there to make new memories with them this Thanksgiving (as does this part of your family!).
Precious Memories. Let me share with you some of the most precious memories I have of being at my grandma-n-grandpa's. After driving for what seemed to be all night, but was only about 3 hrs from Portland, we'd arrive at their farm late at night. Sometimes they were in bed or had fallen asleep in their recliners waiting for us. Grandpa would put on some hot water and we'd all sit around and have a cup of hot tea and get caught up. Me and g-pa always liked two spoons of sugar in our tea. I felt so grown up getting to drink hot tea with them and just talking about the going-ons of life on the farm. The other memory was waking up to the smell of g-pa cooking fried potatoes and eggs or apple sauce pancakes. I've tried for years to duplicate those two dishes but to no avail. They'll never be as good as the ones "Pa" made. Thank you Cheryl for reminding us to take a few minutes out of our busy lives and remember those precious ones that were near and dear in our lives. They will always be in our hearts. Heb. 12:1 May God Bless you during this season, Rusty
Cheryl, this is very inspirational to read. This means a lot to me because I have some of the same memeries when I think of my mother and "Easy Chocolate Cake" otherwise known as "Texas Sheet Cake" or "Texas Cake Brownies". I tell you what. Anytime I am there I would be more than happy to represent whoever the apple and chocolate cream pies where made for by eating them for you ;-). You know me, always willing to help with food. :-)
Hi Cheryl--
Your sweet sister was just bragging about your pies to me on Sunday! I have been commissioned to bake some and she said you're the pie-baker in your family! I'd love your Mam-ma's recipe. We enjoyed lots of those chocolate pies with Pat and Tommy over the years! I love the memories of food! We sure love you!
Post a Comment