All in the Family - Good For Spooning

It took me forever to write this, between the cleaning, cooking and more cleaning, and by the time I had it finished it was Black Friday, so I just decided to save it and give it to you today. I hope it was worth the wait.

It’s that time of year again. For most people it means shopping, turkey, cranberries and chaos. For me it also means remembrance and thinking of the people who are no longer around. Those who have passed, and those who live elsewhere. Of course when I remember them I also think of the FOOD we ate and the experiences surrounding them.

Let’s talk first about Gram. First she was Grandma Lea (yes, part of my name comes from her), then she was Gram, then when our kids started to speak she became GG (Great Grandma), then simply THE G. She was a horrendous cook, except for pot roast. (Moment of truth – I haven’t eaten pot roast since she died – no one’s was better.) Heavens to Murgatroid! I could tell you so many stories about bad food, but there are better stories. When I was little she had this tiled wall at the edge of the kitchen and you had to be as tall as the black tile line on the wall to get in the kitchen to cook. I realize now that it was an effort to keep the tiny crowded kitchen free of kids underfoot, but I used to stand on tip toes trying to get big enough to “cook”. It was at her house that I sat at the kids’ table with cousins, waiting to be “big enough” to sit at the grown up table and I was very jealous when Lorrie got to move up! It was her house that John and I visited on St. Patrick’s Day where we promptly informed her St. Patrick was an Italian so we were eating pizza instead of corned beef and cabbage (that went over like cussing in church!). It was also at this house that I shooed people of all ages out so I could work when I catered her Birthday Extravaganza in 1998.
Here she is at Landry’s on the San Antonio River Walk with Jack in 2004 – she wanted scallops and it was her birthday week.

As she aged and cared even less what people thought of her, the most rude and admittedly hilarious things came out of her mouth. She loved to flirt with all guys and was unabashedly open about it. For example, out to eat one night with friends and family, the waiter comes to the table and says, “Hi, my name is Adam.” THE G pipes in with, “Hi, I’m Eve.” Nancy told me she thought she’d choke on her drink. Then there was the “case a beer” incident. After not liking what was ordered, she sent it back and the manager came over and offered to get her something else. He suggested a quesadilla. Hearing impaired G says, “I can’t drink a whole case of beer”. Maybe he should have said it like Napoleon Dynamite said it? My favorite was an ice cream run to Friendly’s (you east coasters know what I am talking about). The waitress takes our order and G orders maple walnut ice cream with “wet nuts” (walnuts in maple syrup – I know, gross). As the waitress walks away, G grabs her wrist and says, “And don’t be stingy with the wet nuts either!” I thought my mother would stroke out right there at the table! She was irascible, difficult, snarky and I miss her all the time.

Of course I miss Nettie too (see my earlier blog about her). It was at my home in Texas that I served Nettie her first fried turkey. She tasted it with trepidation, but was delighted with the bird. Now SHE was a great cook and I can almost perfectly duplicate her chicken salad now, but her ham salad recipe seems to be gone.

And then there are the people, those alive, we no longer live near. I miss my JUGS in Texas (Nanette, Deb and Doreen). Each time I make cornbread dressing I think of Beth (aka Ethel to my Lucy). When laying out the buffet I can’t help but think of Dave Turner and Micki “Childress” from our days in Spain. I also laugh every time I think of Kevin Sullivan. His Mama “brought him up right” so he didn’t want to come to T-giving dinner empty handed, John suggested he bring wine and shared my then favorite winery. Kevin shows up with a CASE of wine – 6 red and 6 white – because he wasn’t sure how much to bring.

With the growth of Facebook and Twitter, OLD friends from long ago and far away are finding me and keeping in touch. I am thrilled (for the most part – tee hee).

Take time this holiday season to make the food that reminds you of your past. Ask your relatives to write their “secret recipes” down someplace so future generations can have them to enjoy. Embrace those people you love, and cherish the time together. Believe it or not, they won’t be there forever.

This week’s Food Memories were a conglomeration of the past and the present: Our first Thanksgiving in Spain (1988 – that’s a story for another time) and our first Thanksgiving with John’s sister (2011), sushi with cousin Christine at Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood, son Jack coming home and raiding the pantry (I loved that!!), turkey dinner with 20 people in attendance and finishing that meal with friends.

Enjoy this week’s photos:

Me with my new potato ricer T-giving 2009