Tribute to her gift of hospitality - the journey continues

DAY 3: Broccoli Salad

While this recipe was not original to Mom, she always recognized new and innovative recipes by the standard of her day. I say that because by today's standard, this would not be considered revolutionary and one has to consider regional 'norms' as well. For South Central Ohio in the late 1970s, this was revolutionary. To combine the sweet and savory in a cold vegetable salad was not typical, but Mom saw that this combination would work and appeal to her family and guests. Broccoli, raisins, onion, bacon, and walnuts in a dressing that was tangy due to the vinegar and sweet due to the hint of sugar in its recipe. It definitely caught on in our family and was soon a frequent request when we gathered for any holiday. 

The notion of being 'cutting edge' in her cooking was not the hallmark of Mom's arsenal of recipes. However, this one was just that and it brings to mind another daring attempt she took with chicken salad, based on her experience with her close friends Marilyn and Marty at the very chic restaurant in the Lazarus store in Downtown Columbus on High Street. Chicken salad with grapes and pecans! Remember the time and the place - this was unheard of! This may seem silly and maybe a bit trivial, but I was always very proud that my Mom would try new things and embrace ideas originating outside of the county in which we lived. She, in my youthful eyes, was willing to think about things "outside the box". She did not fall into complacency, but still embraced who she was and where she came from; a delicate balance for her generation. I always admired that about my Mom and I know she instilled this strong belief that one perspective is not all that exist, and that trying new and different things could lead to real discoveries and broadening of the mind. This obviously has translated from food to life in my experience and I am eternally grateful to her for modeling this for me and my children. And it all started with some broccoli and some raisins!

DAY 4: Peanut Butterscotcher Bars

OMG, these are fabulous! In keeping with the trying something different theme, these bar cookies fit the bill. The cake-like cookie is lightly lemon flavored and the topping is peanut butter, butterscotch bits, and Corn Flakes! The unlikely combination really works!! And they must be cut on the diagonal - don't know if that was in the original recipe, but it was how Mom always served these yummy delights. 

I am working on the visual presentation idea for each of these recipes and while I am far from artistic in the presentation (which is a future goal), I did want to add the handwritten recipe to the shot for this dish. I did so in tribute to Mom's younger sister Ginny who left this life much too soon (this week) for a reunion with Mom, her husband (Uncle Sherrill), their brother (Uncle Roland), and their mother, (Grandma Marguerite). Handwritten letters, journal entries, cards, and notes were a priority for this side of my family - it mattered that you took the time to write it yourself. And no one practiced this more faithfully than Aunt Ginny. Ashley had just received a few days before her passing, an Easter card with a handwritten message inside for Avery's first Easter. We always smiled when we shared one of the letters or messages inside cards from Aunt Ginny because she would consistently share important news from her family and always inquire about ours with lots of questions. I think it was her clever way to insure we would respond :) It has hit me this week how much seeing the handwriting of loved ones we have lost truly means to the spirit of the reader. It does create mental images of the person and fosters a link to their lives and their memory. So, this one is for you Aunt Ginny. I am typing my tribute, but I think you see the love within the lines of print. You will be missed. Share an embrace with Mom for me. 

In Tribute...through her gift of hospitality

Crunchy Onion Bread with Cheesy Butter

UNsweetened Orange Ice Tea & Chili

I am a firm believer in Divine Intervention and what I will call "Divine Nudging" and recognize it as the impetus to this new project. In light of recent losses and a general funk I am experiencing, I am taking my inspiration from Julie Powell, the young writer and devotee of Julia Child depicted in the lovely movie "Julie & Julia" from 2009. In an effort to reconnect with my beautiful mother, whom I miss desperately these days, I wanted to honor her gift of hospitality by recreating one of her recipes each day for the month of April. In reflecting on this notion, I decided, why not expand it to how ever many days it takes to get through her recipes in the cherished wooden recipe box that currently resides on the shelf in my beautiful daughter's home. I am sure she will allow me custody for this experiment, no this spiritual journey! 

What do I anticipate as beneficial from this journey? As I mentioned, to reconnect, to feel closer to the loving spirit of my beloved Mom as I view her handwriting on each of these little 3x5, weathered cards, or scraps of paper. I can almost hear her voice or see her presence standing at the stove, or working at the counter in the endless hours of chopping, mixing, stirring, baking, and serving that she loved so dearly. I am hoping to rekindle the significant part of my heart, my identity that was fostered by the love Mom showed in her care and her service to others through her gift of cooking.

I will share on a regular basis, the goal being daily, what dish I prepared and a bit about the memories it conjures as I partake of it. I began with some basics and some favorites as I departed from Ash's home last visit, sans the beloved recipe box. So, I begin with the few recipes I have on hand, albiet the fact they are some of the favorites for holidays. 

DAY 1: Chili soup with UN sweetened tea

One of the first things my Mom taught me to cook was her chili soup. The recipe was so simple and was a staple for our family as marking the beginning of our favorite time of year, Fall. It was almost always accompanied by a yummy pumpkin pie with the best pie crust I had ever experienced! As the days turned cooler, the table would be set with big bowls of soup, saltines to make it even thicker (Daddy's preference, which caught on!!), iced tea to drink and a pie cooling on the counter - smelling amazing!!! Hearty and comforting, those are the words that come to mind while eating Mom's chili.

The UNsweetened ice tea (orange flavored) was revolutionary for its time. In the age of 'sweet tea' and NO one doing the flavored tea 'thing', Mom chose to mimic the practice of close friends, The Alexanders as they always had UNsweetened tea. I think it was due to dietary restrictions, but Mom honored it by always having both sweet and UNsweetened tea in separate pitchers, labeled with masking tape and black marker on the lid! Whenever I drink this tea, which quenches my thirst better than anything coming or going, I think of the endless number of social events hosted by Mom in various settings! Our home, a picnic, family reunion, birthday parties, holiday gatherings, carry-in dinners, you name it and UNsweetened flavored iced tea was there. To this day, I cannot drink ANY drink that is sweet. Not coffee, soda, or any type of tea! The flavored teas of today taste syrupy and artificial to me. Give me a huge glass of Mom's UNsweetened iced tea when I have a thirst that won't stop!!

DAY 2: Crunchy Onion Bread with Cheesy Butter
Oh, my niece Krista's mouth is watering just at the mention of this one!! I believe my first memory of Onion Bread w/Cheesy Butter was at Easter, but I can't recall the year. Since Krista's birthday often fell near, or even on Easter, it was often on the menu for her birthday dinner (more about those in a moment) and I think that is how her passion for this bread began! Now, I am a bread lover from birth and this one always hit the spot when I was craving some carbs! The combination of the Durkee Onions in the bread itself and the highly complicated Cheesy Butter (Cheese Whiz and a stick of softened butter - NOT margarine, had to be butter!) came together in such a unique way! Mom would bake it in a 3-quart Pyrex casserole dish, which gave it its unique round shape. I always felt quite Cosmopolitan whenever this was on our table. Round bread!?! How cool was that?!! And the butter had CHEESE in it? Whoa.

So my memories associated with this bread is around Krista's birthday meals, which brings to mind the special way Mom would celebrate ALL our birthdays. We, of course, could have full reign over the menu and everything was always homemade!! The birthday meals, as we got older, left home and expanded the family with spouses and children of our own became an event because we knew everyone would be gathered around that dining room table on Bushmill Rd, or Co Rd 550. Mom would use the good dishes, never paper products, and she would have fresh flowers she picked from her flower garden and arranged herself as the centerpiece. Her organization for preparing meals was the exemplar I modeled with her comprehensive list that always began with listing the entire menu. From that she would create her shopping list, and then plan the preparation of each dish, writing the timing for each dish to go into the oven, come out of the oven, and when things would be on the table! Yes, Ash, I get it from Grandma June. I bet even money that for Avery's birthday dinner in the not-so-distant future, you will have a similar list :) Mark my words - it's genetic.