October has always been a month of reflection for me. This year, I find myself thinking about my favorite family recipes and all of the women who have influenced my cooking. I'm a bit nostalgic for Grandma's kitchen.
Food Memories
For me, nostalgia is rooted in memories of food. My grandma and mom were both great cooks. My aunts have their specialties that always appeared at family gatherings. The women in my grandma's Sunday School class provided a smorgasbord of eats at church potlucks that will forever be stuck in my mind.
My Grandma Raines made breakfast every morning for my grandpa. When I spent the night at their house, I would awaken to the smell of bacon and fried eggs with biscuits and gravy. To this day, those smells take me back to childhood.
She made the absolute best macaroni and tomatoes I've ever tasted. Have you ever had macaroni and tomatoes? If you're from the Midwest, you probably have - depending on your age. While this dish isn't as popular, you might find it on a diner menu in some small town if you're lucky.
My mom was a "foodie" before we knew what that was. As a result, we traveled to places she'd seen on a TV food or cooking show. We'd eat in restaurants she'd read about in a magazine. In all of this, she brought these adventures back into the kitchen at home and we'd eat the same foods we had on vacation long after returning.
All of these women - all of these experiences - had a part in creating my love of food and cooking. Many of the recipes on this site are from these women and other women who have influenced food and cooking in some way and I am happy to celebrate them.
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