So many Mum's!
Happy Mother's Day
I imagine some of you, like me, feel they have more than one mother figure in their life. I had my mum, but have been charmed with complimentary motherly figures too.
I had wonderful aunts (the wives of my mum’s 8 brothers) and my mum’s best friends, but also an important teacher, Ms. Cloud. Then there are the many women in Europe who taught me not just culinary skills but much more.
My memories run deep with each of these women but I thought I would reminisce about some of the food. I’ve spoken previously about growing up in my mum’s kitchen but one “recipe” I don’t think I have shared before is her Banana Milk. This little concoction was her go-to for upset tummies, bad dreams, ear throbs, restless sleep and the “chillies”. To make it: a warmed bowl of milk with sliced banana added and sprinkle of sugar - that’s it. She would bring the bowl to my bed and talk me through my troubles. Ninety percent of the time it did the trick, rarely did I need more to fix the ailment. It was her secret sauce and I used it well into my teens. Was this just my mum, or do you remember this “remedy” too?
My mum’s friend Margo introduced me to the comforts of Jewish home cooking, appetising and deli. Together they volunteered for various community organisations and I was always in tow. If meetings were held at Margo’s she always had a pot of something going. Never one to turn down a bowl at the table, I tried everything Margo put in front of me. My favourite, her Polish Borscht. My love of beets was solidified. She knew it was my favourite and made it for me often. I would gobble it up while mooning over her cute son sat across me from the table.
My Nan made simple comfort food but her buns were favoured. Soft, dense and warm from the oven with soft salty butter after church on Sunday’s - I’m craving them now as I write this. Then there was Ms. Cloud, an elementary teacher who saw an early interest in science within me. She taught me my first recipe, Apple Crisp. Printed out from the Commodore 64 on 10x13 teal blue paper (my mom still had this paper in her hope chest, I found it when she passed). Ms Cloud and I made it together after school one day. I still remember mixing the crumble by hand and the smell from the oven. I was hooked.
While living abroad, I was flush with tremendous Italian and French women, sharing and teaching me their recipes. I loved living with these women, earning their trust and respect. Hearing their stories, absorbing their advice and studying each personality trait. The food of course was always at the centre of life. One great memory is Pasta Fagioli. After working in the garden and vineyard on an unseasonably cold April morning, I came in for lunch to a crackling table side fire, a freshly laid tablecloth and a steaming pot on the range. Laura brought out bowls of hot pasta soup, loaded with borlotti beans, carrots, celery and salty stock. It was creamy, textured and comforting - took all the chill out of my bones and readied me for warm siesta.
Then there was Mariana’s cabbage. While living in Piemonte, my love for cabbage grew. A common vegetable used year round in Northern Italy, she simply braised savoy cabbage in a little stock (not too much, just enough to keep the cabbage moist). The finisher, a healthy amount of fresh butter made by the neighbour melting down the scalloped ridges of each wedge of cabbage. This perfect dish, with bread and cheese on the side, was faultless.
My best friend Jill and I reminisce about some other childhood memories from our mother’s kitchen on our latest episode of Everything On The Table. Click below to listen and please like and subscribe, we appreciate your support! (Also available on Apple Podcasts).
For Mother’s Day I have added 3 new cooking videos to my YouTube channel. I have posted one below for a delicious Baby Gem and Asparagus Salad but two others await you: Strawberry Rhubarb Scones and an Easy “Pea”sy Soup. View all three by clicking HERE. The written recipes are included below.
Recipes
