Country Kitchen:
Memories of Mom's Recipes Get-Together
By Mary Emma Allen
Most of us have memories of recipes Mother made as we were growing up.
These will reflect various eras of cooking in different parts of the
country. However, they evoke memories and often are the basis of the
cooking we do.
What about a Mom's Memories Get-Together where you share recipes and
memorabilia, stories and kitchen tips that were part of those early
years? This can be an occasion for friends or family, can involve an
afternoon tea, brunch, or evening gathering. This eventually may evolve
into a dinner party or reunion when everyone brings a dish from days ago.
The era of your childhood will determine the invitations, table
decorations, memory exhibit, and recipes. You may have ladies of
approximately the same generation or from a variety of years.
Invitations
You may simply invite guests to your Memories Get-Together by phone or
e-mail. However, it might be fun to create invitations around the theme.
Scrapbooking techniques and stamping might come into play when designing
them.
*Skillet Invitation - One idea could involve cutting out a skillet shape
from colored paper, then adding decorative touches around the edge and
handle, and including the information in the center, with calligraphy or
stick-on letters.
*Cookbook Shape - Cut this out with a decorative edge, loop a ribbon
through as binding, and write by hand or with stickers the invitation
information.
*Other shapes, such as cookie cutters, slow cookers, a cookie jar or
potholders are other ideas for invitations.
Vintage Table Cloths
You often can find vintage (40s and 50s) colorful table cloths to use for
your meal. Cloth napkins and placemats of the era also would be
attractive.
Or you might make placemats, cutting out pieces of colorful paper and
covering them with contact paper, as you did as a child. You might find
some that you used at Mother's table.
Table Accessories
Centerpieces could involve flowers, a bowl of artificial fruit (so
popular on my mother-in-law's dining sideboard), or kitchen utensils in a
colorful pitcher.
Look around for plates, soup bowls, cups and saucers. It's fun to mix and
match these items that you collect from different eras. They can
coordinate with your table coverings. Invite guests to share a piece of
nostalgic dinnerware.
Creating a Memory Book
As a take-home gift and something fun to do at your gathering, present
each guest with a small notebook. Then they can decorate each with
scrapbooking items you have on hand. If time is limited, you might
decorate the covers yourself beforehand.
Have each lady start jotting down memories and recipes. This is something
she can continue at home. Title it "Memories of Mom's Recipes" or
something similar.
While you're doing this, play background music of the various eras
included at your get-together.
MOM'S CREAMED POTATOES - My mother served these for supper, along with
baked ham and cole slaw, the evening before our wedding. Family had
gathered at our Hudson River Valley farm home where the wedding would
take place the following day. My mother-in-law recalled this dish for
years after and asked me for the recipe.
This is a simple recipe Mother often served in my childhood, one she
learned from her mother. I also submitted it to the cookbook compiled by
the nursing home where Mother stayed during her last years.
Dice cooked, leftover potatoes into a frying pan or skillet, called a
"spider" by my grandmother. Add some cream or whole milk, but do not
cover the potatoes. If you use milk, add a few pieces of butter, homemade
on Grandmother's farm.
Simmer, stirring often, but do not boil, until liquid is thick. (You can
sprinkle a tablespoon of flour over the potatoes and stir in with the
milk, to hasten thickening.) Add salt and pepper as desired.
Article (C) 2004 Mary Emma Allen
About the Author
Mary Emma Allen has been writing her "Cooking Column" for newspapers
and online publications for 30 years and
has compiled a family cookbook. She’s currently compiling a
cookbook/story book,
"Tales From a Country Kitchen." Visit her web site for more cooking
articles. Contact her at me.allen@juno.com
