DiscussionsDiscussions in the Kitchen

My favorite part about going home (especially for the holidays) is the smell of my mother's homemade pie.  Cherry is by far my favorite, but at this time of year pumpkin pie rises in the ranks.  Teamed up with a cup of coffee and good after-dinner conversation, and you have a recipe for my favorite moment at home.

I dream about all things baked with cinnamon.  The heavenly aroma means an apple pie or just-baked breakfast rolls are nearly ready to enjoy.  Mouthwatering, warm and too delicious for words. 

I have always enjoyed cooking and look forward to trying new recipes.

My parents, who always made every holiday something really special, are gone now, but I can feel them whenever I'm cooking. Homemade bread, Mom's stuffing, and Dad's breakfest caserole take me home again. There is just something about the smell of baking bread that brings comfort. You can feel the stress melting away.

Zeenbean, you make a good point.  Smells and memories just seem to bring them back into the room.
My parents died while I was pretty young.   I remember a few things that she cooked.   My grandmother was living with us at the time and the two of them made some wonderful things.  My dad was a pretty good cook as well.  They did not write the recipes down.   I have no idea how he made his spaghetti sauce, or the best cold slaw in the world.  My mom and grandma made the best stuffing, that for 45 years I have been trying to do.  The recipes are gone. 
The only advice I can give to everyone is write down the family recipes.  If you are looking for a Christmas gift that will be treasured for years put the recipes in a binder make copies for everyone in the family and give the book as a gift.
It might be late to do thst this year but next year will come all to fast.  I think writing  memories in the book would enhance it as well, where the recipe came from, any funny things that happened while making it.  You get the idea. 

I have a receipe from my Dutch father-in-law, who is now deceased, but he finally gave me this receipe before he got sick.  He just told it to me & I wrote it down. It is called Beef & Maccaroni Bake.  I am sure you probably have had this in another type of receipe, but this one was his own & made from scratch.  If you want I can write it out for you when there is more room. Just let me know if you can.

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[quote user="shirley-van-gelder"]

I have a receipe from my Dutch father-in-law, who is now deceased, but he finally gave me this receipe before he got sick.  He just told it to me & I wrote it down. It is called Beef & Maccaroni Bake.  I am sure you probably have had this in another type of receipe, but this one was his own & made from scratch.  If you want I can write it out for you when there is more room. Just let me know if you can.

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[/quote]  YES I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT AND MAYBE PREPARE IT .  THANK YOU

I always loved going to my mom's on holidays, and helping her cook the meal. Everyone else would just show up to eat, and leave. I loved just spending the time in the kitchen with her, she had been a chef when she was younger, and we lived in California, and once we moved to Oklahoma, she was always working as a cook in either a restaurant or a school. I learned to cook from her, I miss the smells and warm feeling I got just being there with her in the kitchen.

Hi, Shirley!

I just read your message about the recipe from your Dutch Father.  I collect recipes and I would LOVE it if you would give me this recipe.  Thank you so much!  God bless you and have a very, merry Christmas!

Vickie (********************** or **********************)

PS I've never responded to a message, so I'm not sure if it is necessary to include my email address.  If not, please forgive my stupidity. :-)

I would love to a copy of that Dutch Beef and Macaroni !!

[:P]would  like copy dutchh beef and  macaronii recipe.   thank you

I have been following you through the threads on this website and on a couple of others.  I just started in the communities in January and am discovering how to manuever through each website.  I would love to get to know you better.  You have such wonderful suggestions and ideas. We seem to both be on the same wave length. 

I made a recipe book for my daughter about 10 years ago, including all the recipes I fixed from my file, the hand written recipes from my relatives and my exhusbands, and anything I fixed that I had in my head. I covered it, put in hints, how-to info, my old favorits,etc.  I even put in conversion charts from some old cook books I still have.  I made a copy for myself and one for my son.  Turns out, son is the cook and not the daughter.  But she appreciates the original hand written recipes.  Some date back almost 50 years now as they were originally given to my mother.  It took me 6 months to complete it, and it was given to her for Christmas.  She treasures it and most any recipe they might want is already preserved.  Only problem, I keep collecting recipes, and have to keep up with them to pass on. One word of advice, it is never too early to get started.  It will take longer than you think.  Great bad weather project.  Love to all ldbayou

MY PARENTS DIED VERY YOUNG. THANKFULLY I REMEMBERED A LOT OF HER RECIPES AND SOME WERE WRITTEN. MY HOME BURNT DOWN SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I LOST MY COLLECTION OF RECIPES AND ABOUT A HUNDRED RECIPE BOOKS I HAD COLLECTED FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS, ESPECIALLY CHURCH, TOWNS, AND MANY OTHER SPECIALTY BOOKLETS/BOOKS.

WHAT IS DADS' BREAKFAST CASSEROLE AND HOW IS IT MADE? I LOVE TRYING NEW RECIPES.

THANK YOU,

  JAN1922

To Zeenbean

What I love is a lazy day with my husband, children and other family and friends where we can talk and play games like Monopoly and Twister and eat a meal where each item has been chosen and prepared by a family member or friend as their contribution to the holiday feast. 

There is just something about into your family's home for any meal and being overwhelmed by the warmth and smells from the kitchen. It is as warm and cozy as a blanket. The hugs when I walk in the door are also a huge bonus! [:)]