When I first launched Rooted in Foods in 2013, it was my way of combining my passions for genealogy and food history. Over the years I’ve shared family stories, details about my ancestry finds, recipes, and sometimes the reasons that drive my love for these two things. Albeit somewhat irregularly. As my stage in life…
I have been off work for a couple weeks recovering from carpal tunnel surgery, and have had more time than usual to watch my favorite morning TV shows. This week in particular, I noticed more food TV personalities sharing memories of the food they ate during their childhood. The Chew aired an entire show about…
Every year at Christmas time, I try to give something homemade to my “mirror”, Steph. Steph and I exchange yummy goodies all year long, so it’s becoming a tad difficult to find new treats. This year, however, I decided to make granola from scratch. I’ve never made it, but this recipe is definitely going on the annual treat…
Christmas morning is a madhouse … it certainly was when I was a kid and it still is now that I have a kid … and dogs! The last thing a mom wants to deal with is breakfast. Okay, at least this mom. Try this easy Christmas tree made from cinnamon rolls to make the…
I wanted to share a few photos from the Memorial Day ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery in Carbondale, Illinois. Woodlawn is our oldest cemetery and is where all of the founding fathers were laid to rest. Our ceremony includes laying wreathes on their graves, along with other veterans. Next year will mark the 150th anniversary of…
The week 11 theme for the 2015 52 Ancestors Challenge is “Luck of the Irish”. I don’t really have an ancestor that fits the theme … we’re of Scottish and German heritage and, while the Celtic route would still sort of fit, I decided to focus in on family tradition this week in light of…
Stormy Weather is an apropos theme for the Week 10 52 Ancestors Challenge. It’s March and, in southern Illinois, we would normally be headed into spring and well on our way to “tornado season”. Not this year … our only two snow storms of the winter have happened in the last two weeks. They’ve been…
Over the weekend, a friend from college posted a Christmas memory on Facebook about being “dirt poor” … his words … as a child and how that impacted Christmas for him and his seven siblings. Christmas stockings were filled not with trinkets and “stuffers”, but with fresh fruit and hard candy, both being treats for his…
September in Southern Illinois can be hot or cold … or both on the same day! Autumn approaches, regardless, and pumpkins and apples are ripe for the picking. Noodle, Grandma Debbie, and I went pumpkin picking today. We mostly picked from the piles of already picked pumpkins … but I’m okay with that! These are pretty…
This was the view at Flamm Orchards in Cobden, Illinois last weekend! The Flamm family has owned this orchard for over 120 years… six generations! It’s one of two of our “go-to” spots for fresh fruit and vegetables during the summer and fall seasons. Mom, Noodle and I stopped at the fruit stand on our Saturday…
I’m writing about something a little different for my 52 Ancestors post this week. Earlier this summer, a brick honoring three men in my family was placed at the veteran’s memorial at Riverside Park in Murphysboro, Illinois. I stopped by a few nights ago to take some photos. It was bright; the sun was setting…
Sometimes the smallest of things turn out to be the most remembered traditions. When I was growing up, one of the things my dad and I shared a love for was movies. We liked the same kinds … or maybe he just pretended to like my movies! We’d stay up to the wee hours…
I introduced Noodle to “A Christmas Story” tonight … she just turned 7 and I think I was 8 or 9 when I first saw it at the theater in 1983. She laughed all the way through it, and kept asking me if Ralphie was going to shoot his eye out! As I was tucking…
When I first saw the clip of Megyn Kelly telling all of us that Santa is White, I thought, “Hmmm, …” and I won’t repeat what followed. I haven’t really followed the drama since her statements … it was an ill-fated piece of political satire … but this came to my attention again today while…
For as long as I can remember, Mom would make batches of snow ice cream in the winter … weather permitting. I don’t really remember exactly how she made it, but I do remember being sent out into the snow to retrieve the main ingredient. There’s just something about making ice cream out of fluffy…
Even as an adult I get excited on snow days … and still let off a little squeal on the inside when I get the word that Noodle’s school is closed. Then, when the university I work at closes (which is rare), it’s a double fun day. Noodle let of a loud squeal this morning…
It might seem odd that I’ve been married almost 12 years and never, until today, hosted a family Thanksgiving. It’s pretty simple, my Mom had the monopoly on that and wasn’t giving it up … nope, never. At least not until she had the chance to do a kitchen remodel. I’ve hosted plenty of…
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays … and it is, of course, all about the food! Okay, it’s not totally about the food. Our family has a lot to be thankful for and we celebrate that on this holiday by coming together and taking time out just to be with each other. There will…
When I think of all the food my daddy loved best, “one-potters” and steak, specifically prime rib, are at the top. Daddy first introduced me to prime rib when I was about 8 years old. This wasn’t something we had very often because of the expense, so it was a true treat when we’d have…
Or, rather … Happy HOWLoween party! Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday … I get it honestly. My Daddy always loved Halloween and loved seeing all the neighborhood kiddos all dressed up in their costumes. Of course Trick-or-Treating was awesome, but when I outgrew that, Daddy started cooking chili in the driveway so all my…
The Apple Festival is a long time tradition in the small town of Murphysboro, Illinois. It is the oldest and largest festival in Southern Illinois and the Grand Parade is considered to be one of the best … it’s certainly the longest. I know … I’ve marched it many times in my life, most recently…