Kitchen

[PA Mom-mom]

@DiAnne I still find myself occasionally cooking with Campbells. It really helps when cooking for grandchildren who are just string beans!

Hahaha! See what I did there? Campbells soup...string beans?

[PA Mom-mom]

@CrazyKittyLvr2 Charles Chip cans! Yes!

[CrazyKittyLvr2]

@spiderw   Corn fritters, yes.  I just to DD that I wanted to make some.

[Annabellethecat66]

I never lived with my mother and no I wasn't adopted.  So my memories come from living with my grandmother, my maiden aunt and my Dad.

Everything was home make.  The most amazing cakes.....you just can't imagine, totally from scratch.  Coconut cake, chocolate cake (real chocolate, etc).

My aunt was amazing at everything.  She crocheted bedspreads, tablecloths, you name it.

What I made for my family, I learned totally on my own.  I went to live with my sister when I was around 12 years old.  We didn't have much to eat and were lucky when we did have food.  My sister was a single mother with myself and 4 children.  This was the early 60's.  

There was no government help.  My sister worked 2 jobs and I came right home from school to care for the children.  Even with all of the difficulties, I skipped my junior year of high school.

No boo hoos.  Life is what you make it.

So, I waited to have children and was a stay at home mom.  So now I'll tell you what I MADE.

Home made lasagna, vegetable soup, oyster stew, lots of foods.

My daughter is coming for a few days while I have cataract surgery.  I'll make some of her favorites.  She'll take pictures and send to her sister's with the caption "eat your heart out".  Ha!

I do love reading the memories of everyone here.  It doesn't make me sad that I didn't experience a life many other's did.  I know there are a lot of people who had much worse back then and do now.

You ladies rock.  I like the way you have the sense to appreciate life as it is.  My motto is enjoy today but look forward to tomorrow when it will be even better.

Today is a gift from GOD.  He has given us 24 hours to use as we will, when the day is done I hope I don't regret the price I paid for it.

Take care sweet ladies and keep reminiscing........

[CrazyKittyLvr2]

My MIL was just an ok cook.  She had a lot of kids and quantity was the name of the game.  When she fried pork chops she cooked them to death.

The first summer we were married my parents came to visit.  My MIL was gone for the day and we invited my FIL for dinner.  Mom made pork chops, mashed potatoes, a couple of veggies, rolls.  My FIL inhaled those pork chops, he loved them.  He had never had them when they didn't clatter on the plate from being overcooked.

He mentioned that meal to my DH for days afterward.

[denisemb]

@Annabellethecat66 

Major hugs for you.

Not out of pity, but umm...congratulatory for masterfully taking your past and focusing on positivity.  I've enjoyed your posts.

[Misplaced Parisian]

I miss my beloved maman so very much I cannot even pick a favorite.  She was a marvelous cook & baker.  She did it all from scratch and I inherited that trait (such a blessing).  

@Annabellethecat66  YOU are inspiring.  I love your spirit.  Wishing you the best always and especially with your upcoming surgery.

[alicedee]

My dad liked plain food, meat well-done.  We always had potatoes, some kind of vegetable, meat (pork chops, chicken) and bread.  Or chili, goulash, bean soup.  Pancakes on Friday (Catholic!).  In summer we had a garden, so there would be sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, fresh string beans, and berries.

Every Sunday she cooked a roast in the pressure cooker with potatoes and carrots.  That was delicious.

There was always some kind of dessert....a slice of cake, a cookie, or jello with fruit cocktail....pie on holidays.

Nine people and not a lot of money, so meals were usually very simple.  But we never went hungry. There was no eating between meals, and seldom had snacks in the evening.  

[mousiegirl]

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@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:

@spiderw   Corn fritters, yes.  I just to DD that I wanted to make some.

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@spider woman @CrazyKittyLvr2   My mother wuld deep fry roundish corn fritters, and serve them with syrup.  I make corn gritters, but mine are savory.

My Moither was a good baker because she had a severe sweet tooth, terrible every day cook except for a few meals, fried chicken, roast goose, won't eat this now, etc., but usually, her food was overcooked and bland.  I took after my Father, a Chef, fortunately for my family, lol.

[jannabelle1]

Her Sunday pot roast with potatoes, parsnips and carrots went in the oven when she got up and cooked while we were at church - and ready for our noon dinner. She made leftovers on Monday into her "hash" as she called it.  Everything was cut into pieces, warmed and topped with leftover gravy. I've never been able to make it like she did. And for dessert - her "apple crunch"....slices of apples baked with a sweet, buttery oatmeal topping.