From My Ancestor’s Kitchen
My passion for history began in 1985 when John Jakes’ North and South was produced as a miniseries for ABC, and Patrick Swayze entered my young life as character Orry Maine. I was a preteen and completely awestruck by the story, the characters, the costumes and the lifestyle of the time. That was the catalyst for a life-long love of history – and John Jakes novels. As I grew older, that single passion grew into a love of family heritage and finding cultural connections to my own heritage through food.
My German Heritage
I descend from some of the oldest German families in southwest Illinois. They arrived here at various times via the Mississippi River (Mueller and Schuster) or through Minnesota (Essler). My Grandpa Raines, however, hailed from the land of kilts and clans by way of his ancestors (Lindsey and Douglas).
Even with my strong German ancestry, I never felt German. I always identified with the Scottish side of my lineage. I suspect that had something to do with my grandpa being the story teller and my grandma not being fond of her own background, a hang over from anti-German sentiment during the World Wars.
My first trip to Germany was in 2012 for a tourism education conference. I celebrated one of my 30-something birthdays among friends from many countries, but Germany felt like home. My husband, Chili, was with me and we took time to see places where my ancestors lived. This experience changed me in a way that is almost indescribable. I fell in love with the home of my many greats grandparents, a home I had never known was quickly becoming my own.
I felt like I was among family. The food in every traditional restaurant reminded me of my Grandma’s kitchen. Every glass of wine I drank reminded me of our Southern Illinois wines. It amazed me how similar everything was to home.
Genealogy as Education
For many, genealogy becomes much more than simply tracing a family tree or identifying birth and death dates. It is a way of learning how our ancestors lived; putting the pieces of their lives together to tell their story.
For me, it is about Jacob Mueller arriving in New Orleans in 1828 and traveling north along the Mississippi River with two friends to settle in St. Clair County. It is about Veronica Essler leaving her Minnesota home at age 16 (in 1905) to teach in a one-room schoolhouse in South Dakota only to meet her husband and move to Southern Illinois. And about Reverend Caleb Lindsey settling with his youngest children near Pomona, Illinois in 1815, propagating 8 more generations of my family. Then there is Winfield Scott Douglas, whose stories were on loop out of my grandpa’s mouth. I feel like I know him the best. There are so many more stories to tell than theirs.
Stories aren’t the only pieces that get passed down. Recipes often come along for the ride. While many families have a family bible that lists births and marriages, my family has handwritten recipes from four generations of women – an archive that sheds light on lifestyles no longer lived. It is a treasure.
Learning about Heritage through Food
After that trip in 2012, my love for my Germany turned into a strong desire to learn about German cuisine. Sauerkraut was first on my list of things to try. I don’t mean recipes that include sauerkraut, either. I mean cabbage heads turned into pungent beautiful fermented sauerkraut! My mom told me how easy sauerkraut is to make and I had read how easy it is, but there is something about the challenge of home-brew sauerkraut that intrigued me. I started small, had great success, which only spurred me further.
Twelve years and many German cookbooks later, I have connected with my German roots in a truly meaningful way. My dinner table is frequently graced with the same meals my Grandma put on her dining table for over 60 years, all while denouncing her own heritage. Our daughter has grown up hearing the same stories I was told by my grandparents. Only the stories are now laced with a love of being German, a pride that comes with understanding your past – the good and bad. She is anxious to get to the Fatherland, a trip we have promised post high school graduation.
Family and Food Roots
Getting back to my roots was my initial goal for this blog – and not just from a genealogical perspective. It is important for us to put down that mobile device and reconnect with family and friends, to cook Sunday dinner like Grandma did, and to remember and retell the stories we heard growing up. In another century, I want my great-great grandchildren to continue telling the story of us.