Kitchen

[ECBG]

Can YOU make them?  What are you better at?

My grandmother's two layer coconut cake.  I was so young, but I know the frosting was the traditional seven minute frosting.  I never found the recipe!

My grandmother's incredible caramel cake!  (Yes, but...)

My stepmother's pot roast and vegies (I can do that one).  Also her vinegar, oil, and poultry seasoning grilled chicken!  (Was it that it tasted better because the chicken had the skin on, which we later took off but...).  I can do it and have increased the spices to reach my goal!

I'm better with homemade spagetti and vegetable soup.  Everyone always preferred my potato salad (as did she).

I was the only one to stir fry.

[PurpleBunny]

I am very happy that as a child, I made a point to hang in the kitchen and learn many of the family recipes.  I know my brother appreciates it too when he misses my late mother's cooking. I only wish my daughter would take an interest as I feel that someday she'll regret not knowing how to cook the foods from her childhood. I only appreciated and missed those dishes once my Mom was gone.

[rrpell]

Cold soups!   My mother loved to cook and in the summer, we ate cold soup with bread from a bakery.  Fresh pea soup (my favorite), avocado with yogurt and crunchy celery, beet with sour cream, hard boiled egg and dill, gazpacho and even a sweet cherry soup were found in our fridge.

Everytime I make her pea soup and stand in the kitchen, shucking mountains of pea pods, I realize my soup can never taste as good as my mother's.  

My grandmother believed everything should cook at 350 for at least an hour and a half....with two sliced onions.  However, I would bring her fish that I caught in the lake and she would make a wonderful fish soup from barley, onions and carrots, mushrooms and sour cream.  The recipe is lost as is my desire to catch fish and clean them!

My aunt made a fabulous potato dish that everyone who tries it, wants the recipe. It is one of those marvelous mixtures that tastes great no matter who makes it.... but I have to give the "win" to my aunt.  As a little kid, I will always remember her coming to the table holding her silver handled serving dish. You just knew something good was in there. 😀

[libbyannE]

Vichyssoise (I don't make it often myself because I don't like cleaning leeks!)

Chilled poached salmon with homemade green mayonnaise and tiny cucumber slices

St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

Veal or Chicken Piccata (heavy on the capers, please!)

Pork ribs cooked in sauerkraut

Hot German potato salad 

Sunday's prime rib roast after church

My aunt's tea sandwiches--especially the little peppery watercress ones and the Boston brown bread with cream cheese. Simple and good. I usually had tea with my aunt next door after school.

Almost anything baked in puff pastry, from baked Brie to Mother's Beef Wellington

and too many more to list.

My mother is a great cook, and our maid, Mary, could cook up a storm, too. She introduced various greens to our menus, which may be why I eat a lot of greens, kale, etc.

[momtochloe]

Every year for my birthday my special dinner was creamed chicken and bread dumplings . . . yum!

My mom wasn't big on sharing her kitchen with folks so I am sorely lacking in cooking skills but as she aged I did help her a lot and picked up a few things along the way.  I can't replicate her creamed chicken but I come pretty close to it and it is still my all time favorite meal.

[Desertdi]

We had "tunaghetti" -- Chef Boyardee with an added can of tuna.    (I would NEVER make that myself.)

[qualitygal]

I do the goulash my mom did. I love it. My favorite dish from the stove top.

[okaywitheasypay]

Macaroni & Cheese made by my grandmother & she made a terrific lemon meringue pie

Sunday after church fried chicken and homemade mashed potatoes made by my mother and shared with friends & relatives outside at our picnic table.

I am a fair cook but by my own admission and judgement have never been able to replicate these to my tastebuds. As my life has went on I finally figured out why = the chickens were free range & I have never mastered making a pie crust . Mainly though I believe the missing "ingredients " are my mother ,grandmother, and many of the friends and relatives !

[SharkE]

7 minute frosting recipes are online every where

I love chicken and dumpiings. Mashed pot/gravy I won't turn away either

[gmkb]

My Mother made the best beef stroganoff.  She also made a lot of traditional Polish dishes like pierogis, kluski, breaded veal cutlet.  I used to make these things also, but never as well as my Mother.