Memories of the Kitchen

  Lynn's Mother

The memory I wish to share is that of my mother. She died of cancer at age 48 and she was the best cook in the world. I remember when I was growing up she always had a huge garden and used every bit of the grown items. She canned everything. I always had to help her and thought it was such a chore at the time. Now I wish I would have paid attention and learned all of this wonderful information she had. She did not use recipes or write them down. She just knew how to do it. I would give anything to know how to can and cook as she did. There is a lesson here: Keep a book of your favorite family recipes to pass on to your family over the years. This would be a true momentum to cherish. ~Lynn Yard

The Kitchen Stool

I remember the stool in the kitchen that was right under the phone!

It was the place that was revered as "the" place to be in the kitchen. We would sit there and talk to mom as she cooked. Lots of important talks went on from the stool! Of course, talking on the phone was just not the same if you weren't sitting on the stool!

I remember, too, that my Aunt - my mom's sister - had one, too! When we went to her house - same thing! You walked in the house and immediately went to the stool to sit and talk! Guess it's a "family" thing! My kids use the counter - I think I'll get a stool! ~Lorri Lockard

Grandmother DeeDee

My favorite food memory is of a Christmas that we spent with my grandmother, DeeDee.

We came from California to Texas to watch the Stanford University football team play in the Bluebonnet Bowl at the Astrodome (the only way to get my father to willingly come to Texas ). Since my grandparents lived in a small town just outside Houston, we spent some extra time visiting with them. I'll never forget when we walked in and the kitchen was literally covered with Tupperware containers holding every type of cookie and sweet imaginable! I thought I had died and gone to cookie heaven! I have no idea how long it took her to bake all those cookies, but as one of four children, I can tell you that we were very thankful.

It's hard not to think of food when I think of DeeDee. When she used to visit us in California, she always made us breakfast. When we visited in the summer, we would help her can vegetables from my grandfather's garden - pickled okra was her specialty. DeeDee is also the source of my absolutely favorite cake recipe- a hand me down from her mother. The sinfully delicious cake was my great grandfather's favorite and has been passed down as "the" birthday cake for the family.

Big Daddy Cake

1 9x13 chocolate cake (baked, still in pan)
1 box light brown sugar
1 stick butter
1 small can evaporated milk
In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, and evaporated milk. Over medium heat, stirring constantly, bring it to a boil. Stop stirring and let it boil for exactly 3 minutes. (alternately - keep boiling until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage - a small glob dropped into a glass of water will form a ball, sink and then flatten out) Remove from heat.

Using the handle end of a wooden spoon, poke about 8 holes into the cake. Pour icing over entire cake. Let cool and eat!