My mother was an excellent cook. Note the picture above. I wish I had that talent---but I don't. I can cook and have, all through the years, but just don't enjoy it like Mama did. There are certain dishes that I do well (some of my kids' favorites) --but I just don't have an interest in doing much of it. However, I do like to EAT!!!! HA.....
SO---luckily my sweet husband has a passion for cooking. I didn't know until quite awhile after we met that he LOVED to cook. He has tons of cookbooks, has cooked for years ---and now fixes our entree items. I will supplement the meal with veggies and salads---but he makes some marvelous dishes for us!!! I am lucky, and as I told my friend Judy recently, eating at home these days is better than eating out!!! Recently, George made a fabulous seafood lasagna -that was better than an expensive restaurant.
Mama was an old-fashioned, country cook (meats, fresh veggies, home-made rolls, home-made desserts, etc.)... I remember so many of the wonderful things that she fixed for us: cheese rolls to die for, rhubarb pie, the best cooked apples I've ever had, her Ambrosia, her Prune Cake, etc. My kids remember Mom's butterscotch cookies. She ALWAYS had home-made cookies for her grandchildren.
Every year, as gifts to my teachers and leaders, Mom would make home-made candy. I was her 'helper' ---having to wrap each piece in wax paper... I think all of my teachers appreciated that gift every year. Mom would leave a tiny bit for us at home. I wish I could have some of that candy now. YUM!!!!
This is a picture of Mom's helper---ME!!!!! She desperately wanted to teach me how to cook, but I was more interested in BOYS and things like that while in high school!!!! Now she is not here for me to 'help.' (Wish she were here to see how wonderful my life has turned out !! I also have lots of questions I would ask her now about our Family History!!)
Have a wonderful Sunday!
Hugs,
P.S. In both of these old pictures (taken about 1956), look at the old stove, that table and chairs, the curtains, and the big turkey roaster sitting on the table. I STILL have and use that big turkey pan!!!! Neat, huh?
49 comments:
Great memories and wonderful pictures.
My Mom was a good cook but a better baker. I remember all the goodies she made around the holidays and how yummy everything smelled.
Pretty cool that you still have the turkey pan!
Enjoy your day.
Sunny :)
Nice photos with history. My mom was not a great cook, but she could can and bake like an expert.
Yeap my mom was an excellent cook also. Like yours she was a southern gal and the food she cooked showed it like, homemade biscuits, fried chicken, home made pecan pies and fudge. I will be honest and say the only reason I cook is so we have something to eat. I don't like to cook. I wish I could make biscuits like she did. My dressing at thanksgiving never tasted like hers did even though I swear I do everything like she told me.
My mother is no longer here either and I wish she could see my life now. she died in 1990 and since then we have so much I want to show her. I believe she sees it and when I am in our pool, i talk to her, she always wanted a pool and died before we got one. She loved to cook southern style. I can't cook, hate cooking and would never cook if i could figure out how to live without eating. my husband helps with the cooking and is better than I am, but not follow recipe cooking like yours. The only thing I could do better tham mother was fudge. hers was always runny and we had to eat it with a spoon, mine was perfect
Loved the cooking pictures. I was with you about learning. I mean, boys were much more interesting.
My Dad was the cook in our family since my Mother was ill most of the time with asthma. He decided if he was going to cook, he would make it intersting. Most of the things we ate were hard to pronounce but he was a wonderful cook.
You are so lucky that George likes to cook. Men make the best cooks and look sooooo cute in an apron.
Homemade candy! Wow. That must have been so delicious Betsy. Like you, I never grew up liking to cook, and am a much better "cleaner upper." :c)
Great memories from these old photos, Betsy. No food ever tastes as good as what Mom used to make I think. :) Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Betsy: Great photo of your Mom with that why are you taking my picture look on her face. You certainly were a cuty is 56.
Good Morning Betsy! Wonderful pictures to preserve those happy memories! My step-mom was a great cook, too! She did most of it without going by a recipe!
Precious Memories!
I do that with my youngest - we make grandma (my moms recipe) of 5lbs of Chocolate Fudge. The best fudge ever, everyone always raves about it. I may just have to post that one this year!
I'm like you - I just really don't have an interest in cooking. Thus, I don't practice the craft and my dishes are just ho-hum. Poor Vol Fan!
Oh Betsy, such beautiful memories and great pictures. I'm so glad you still have that turkey roaster. I have my great-grandmother's stoneware bowl. Every year at Thanksgiving, my Mom and I would use it to mix the dressing. I still use it and am thankful for all those wonderful memories. Thanks for the post & lovely comments on my blog. (I think my electricity goes out so much because we live so far back in the country - lots of tree limbs keep falling since they were damaged by the ice storms.)
Oh Betsy, such beautiful memories and great pictures. I'm so glad you still have that turkey roaster. I have my great-grandmother's stoneware bowl. Every year at Thanksgiving, my Mom and I would use it to mix the dressing. I still use it and am thankful for all those wonderful memories. Thanks for the post & lovely comments on my blog. (I think my electricity goes out so much because we live so far back in the country - lots of tree limbs keep falling since they were damaged by the ice storms.)
What a beautiful mom! I was drooling over the table and items when I got to your PS I had to laugh.
Such wonderful memories!
It never fails to amaze me how many memories are tied up in the preparation of making our meal - many of my favorites are!
I love those old photographs---you are so fortunate to have those to remember your mom by. I wish I had more. I'm not that much of a cook either, though my children seem to like my cooking. I really love to bake, though, and especially love eating what I bake! During the holidays, I make some of the same cookies my Mama did---I still have her original recipe cards, yellowed and food-stained, with little notes she made on them. I treasure them.
...fun post, Betsy! Your mama looks like she would have been fun to be around, and yum....you made me hungry with the descriptions of her recipes! She makes me think of my Grandma Rose.
And in 1956 Mom's wore dresses and aprons. Nostalgia!!
I loved to bake when my kids were little but now who's going to eat it? My MIL was a wonderful baker and was well-known for that. She made so many baked goods and took so much to share at her church.
I don't even care to cook now and I wish I did.
What a nice story, Betsy. Good memories. MB
ahhh! warm memories of those days, cozy, sweet and yes, yummy!
now, i miss my mum and her homemade cooking....
thanks for sharing us such wonderful memories of your mum and you!
have a fantastic day, betsy!
Oh you lucky girl, I keep trying to get my husband to take up cooking as a hobby, so far no luck. Maybe when he retires!
These pictures are so precious,and the memories you have will not fade away.My Mom also was a great cook,but did not use recipes the way I do.Have a wonderful day my friend.
Blessings,Ruth
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story! Memories are wonderful and heart warming! Are you using that turkey roaster this week?? Have a great week ahead and thanks for always posting something so interesting! Going to take a walk down memory lane!
my mum used to cook a lot when we were young, and really enjoyed it too. but now she hates being in the kitchen... wonder why the change came about. i never learned to cook from her, but taught myself through cookbooks and tv shows. i totally enjoy being in the kitchen and creating various foods for family and friends.
My mom was a terrible cook. She didn't like to cook and it showed. Thank goodness for Granny who so patiently taught me how to cook!
I also have my mother's turkey pan and big turkey platter and used them for many a Thanksgiving. Now we do smaller turkeys on the grill so it doesn't get much use anymore.
What amazing pics!I love that kitchen, too! Just think, there are people that have re-done their kitchens to look just like that in retro style!
You are lucky to have these pictures, Becky.
Blessings, Misha
What a cutie pie of a helper!
My Mom was a good cook. She could make something good out of nothing ... or so it seemed. I'm sure it had something to do with all the love they packed into the doing.
A perfect Sunday post! I sure enjoyed this one!
I love the entire kitchen! Look at you. So happy helping mom--probably thinking of seeing a boy while you're cutting. lol Such wonderful memories!
Betsy, look at your Mom's apron...it's back in style now!!! She was a lovely lady. Great post!
My mom was a good cook too. Down to earth but very good for us. I think there is too much put on being skinny now a days.
Mom cooked on a wood stove that had a water reservoir tank at the other end from the fire box. I've helped her many times canning on that stove. That was some goooood eating.
I have the blue enamel turkey roaster that my mom had. It does a great job. My mom wasn't much of a cook. My dad was happy when I was in the kitchen. But my Granny's ... yowzeer!
I love those pictures. I love looking at old kitchens and the lovely women who cooked in them.
This is so wonderful...seeing these old pictures, you are so lucky to still have so many of them.
I have a feeling your mom would be very proud of you and your life...you do so many wonderful things for other people and you have raised a wonderful family. We can't all be great cooks, but we all have our own special talents. (gardening, leaf blowing, making people laugh) ;)
Suz
What nice photos and memories. My mom doesn't cook as much anymore as she is by herself but she still makes carrots in a sauce that Ashton begs her to bring to any family dinner. She also made wonderful ambrosia, bread, cinnamon rolls...I don't like to cook and luckily Mark does and he is welcome to anytime.
some of your posts tug at my heart - this one did. Thanks.
I loved this post on so many levels. Your mom reminds me of my grandmother who loved to cook and her kitchen and the whole 50's era. You are so cute helping to wrap candy and I'm positive that your teachers loved the goodies she made. I carry on the tradition my grandmother started of making cookies for Christmas. I need to get started soon!
PS You are very lucky to have a husband who likes to cook too!
That's so nice that you have your mom's roasting pan. How wonderful! I have a few of her cooking things (measuring cups and potato peeler). Every time I use them I think of her.
Your mom and mine sound very much alike. My mom used to make shortbread for all the teachers at Christmastime.
Lucky you to have a hubby who likes to cook!
Hugs
We're close to the same age, so I recognize the kitchen, Betsy. I'm sure the teachers enjoyed their gift of candy; I sure would have. Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with gratitude.
LOL@ Your interest in boys!
It's amazing how moms could really cook! ;) Love the old photos. very neat.
very neat indeed!
happy monday, Betsy! :)
Fantastic old photos. Nothing like Mom's cooking, is there? I don't get excited about cooking very often and I am lucky too because Bill also likes to cook and he does the cooking and I clean up.
Great post Betsy. No body does it like mom!
I'm like you - not such a great cook except for a few dishes. I will never master my moms Lemon Meringue Pie. :(
Loved hearing about your mother. I understand it all. I have been there and we have done that. My mother was excellent cool, but she had to for us to survive. I used to cook and enjoyed it till I lost my husband. Now I let my daughter-in-law do it.
My mom used to make pralines and wrap them in waxed paper. I've used that recipe every holiday for all of my married life, and now my kids make it too.
How nice to have a husband who enjoys cooking! Steve can heat up a meal in the microwave. Does that count?
My son came in yesterday and asked where the biscuits were. We were having rolls because rolls go with Turkey better (Thanksgiving was yesterday at our house). John thinks every special meal HAS to have biscuits, but he didnt' get them yesterday. Guess that will be what he rememebers me making when he has grandchildren of his own.
Wonderful memories Betsy, the photos are wonderful. My dad was the cook in our family. He would always make a great Sunday breakfast, one of my favorite memories of him.
Unfortunately I did not inherit the talent, I'm a reasonably good cook but it's not my favorite activity.
Wonderful to look back at the past. I have good memories of my mom's cooking, too....especially her apple pie. I'm a so-so cook. Mike likes to cook and actually taught me some when we first got married. I guess we are lucky to have cooking men around :-)
I have been catching up reading some of your earlier posts, Betsy. My hubby is the cook in our family also. When we moved into our new home after retirement, he said, "This is my kitchen." Knowing a good thing, I agreed. :)
Donna
Post a Comment