Food is life. It is what brings people together. So why not spend time and put some hearts into it and make it at home with your own two hands. I grew up in a home where my mama was a stay-home mom and she cooked her heart out to make us happy, celebrate special occasions with friends and family, to ease our pain, comfort, and feed us. She was the best! I can remember the smell of the kitchen when she made crepes! She would let us spread some homemade strawberry jam. We didn't have to sit down. It was that good! We had a theory that if we ate standing up, more of her heavenly crepes would fit in! On on the second day she would stuff them with sweetened cottage cheese and fry in butter. Yikes!! These are my memories. I promised myself that I would give the same memories to my son. So ever since my son was small have I asked him to help to make bread. And with age, he has grown to do more and more. He kneads the dough and makes buns, shapes breads. Sometimes he adds cheese to the dough to make them more special. So maybe, just maybe, I am doing something right. The art of cooking at home will not disappear.
I also have sad memories how cooking eased the pain and distracted from grief. Sometime after my father died my mama had a dream. He had come into the kitchen and asked her to make potato and cottage cheese pierogi. He had asked her to teach me and to make a batch with me. I remember that same morning we sat in the kitchen and we made pierogi...for my dad. I also remember that I fought her dearly because there was nothing more uncool for a teenager to sit with her mama and knead pierogi!! But I did. Today, I am thankful to her. I think back and realise how important this message was. Today, my family makes pierogi and turn it into a family feast, special event, a party,
a celebration and harvest! My husband makes the dough, I make potato and cottage cheese stuffing, my son cuts out the rings and we all stuff and knead the pierogi. Sometimes we make it into a party with friends. So there was definitely an important message from my father and I take it seriously and deeply into my heart.
So cook, my friends! Cook your heart out! Make your own pastas, pierogi, BBQ, steaks, salads, breads, soups. Make a big deal out of it! Make it together with your family because what is the best and the most joyous celebration of love and friendship if not sitting at a table and sharing food and memories that will last forever! If you can't cook, then start with tortillas stuffed with grated cheese and a simple tomato, avocado, pepper and cilantro salsa! Why not? Go crazy!Throw in some beans. Surprise everyone with sour cream on top!! And look at that!
Every time my son has friends over, I try to arrange it so it falls into lunch time. I want them to have fun making their food and enjoy eating together. That is how friendships are made. That is how memories are created. And if they learn how to make something and take that skill through life, and remember that they learnt it from my son, in my kitchen? That is the ultimate reward!
Food is life! It is what brings people together So why not?
I also have sad memories how cooking eased the pain and distracted from grief. Sometime after my father died my mama had a dream. He had come into the kitchen and asked her to make potato and cottage cheese pierogi. He had asked her to teach me and to make a batch with me. I remember that same morning we sat in the kitchen and we made pierogi...for my dad. I also remember that I fought her dearly because there was nothing more uncool for a teenager to sit with her mama and knead pierogi!! But I did. Today, I am thankful to her. I think back and realise how important this message was. Today, my family makes pierogi and turn it into a family feast, special event, a party,
a celebration and harvest! My husband makes the dough, I make potato and cottage cheese stuffing, my son cuts out the rings and we all stuff and knead the pierogi. Sometimes we make it into a party with friends. So there was definitely an important message from my father and I take it seriously and deeply into my heart.
So cook, my friends! Cook your heart out! Make your own pastas, pierogi, BBQ, steaks, salads, breads, soups. Make a big deal out of it! Make it together with your family because what is the best and the most joyous celebration of love and friendship if not sitting at a table and sharing food and memories that will last forever! If you can't cook, then start with tortillas stuffed with grated cheese and a simple tomato, avocado, pepper and cilantro salsa! Why not? Go crazy!Throw in some beans. Surprise everyone with sour cream on top!! And look at that!
Every time my son has friends over, I try to arrange it so it falls into lunch time. I want them to have fun making their food and enjoy eating together. That is how friendships are made. That is how memories are created. And if they learn how to make something and take that skill through life, and remember that they learnt it from my son, in my kitchen? That is the ultimate reward!
Food is life! It is what brings people together So why not?
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