Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Some Cookbooks make me Cry!


When I buy a new-to-me cookbook, I like to use them as night-time reading before I actually try the recipes.  Both of these are great little books -- wonderful little books when you take into account that I only paid 25 cents each for them.  But the one on the right makes me cry!

It's chock-a-block full of good old fashioned baking recipes, and any baker over the age of 40/50 would have tried probably 75% of them.  Recipes like:

  • Walnut Banana Bread (They even add chocolate chips just like I do)
  • Raspberry Walnut Rugelach (A Xmas tradition in our house)
  • Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Snickerdoodles (a recipe taught to me by my darling mother-in-law back in the early 80's & a staple in her kitchen cookie tin)
  • Fresh Apple Crumble Bars (my ex hubby's favorite and baked at least once a month in the "good old days")
  • Maple Apple Crisp & Blueberry Cobbler
  • Berry Shortcakes
  • Pound Cake, Applesauce Cake, Marble Cake
Reading this one is like a trip down memory lane, and it actually made me cry.


I was a stay-at-home, home-schooling mother for about 10 years. And I would bake these things regularly for my family; they were the baking recipes I cut my teeth on, so to speak.  And my little nuclear family, as well as my church family, were happy to be my guinea pigs.  And extremely appreciative they were!  I loved the feeling that while my hubby was working hard outside the home providing for us, I was inside the home keeping things snug and cosy providing my family with wonderful home cooked meals and delicious baking. These recipes are full of memories.

I remember my babies happily playing in the next room, Rafi music playing in the background, soups and stews and fresh breads on the stove, and them excitedly running into the kitchen when the timer went for the oven and the muffins were ready.  

I remember them helping me measure and mix (and sneaking a few chocolate chips) when it was cookie making time.

I remember the smile of delight on my husband's face when I'd made apple squares or if there was fresh baked bread.

I remember the love I put in every household chore and feeling so very, very fortunate to be able to be at home.  I was extremely fortunate.  

Times changed; people changed; life changed.  I went back to work and adjusted my cooking/baking routine; my Ex became a great friend; my children grew and left the nest; and the journey took many different and wonderful twists and turns.

But all of these memories last night had me waxing nostalgic and longing for those little dirty faces, pokey hands, and chubby feet.  

Ahhh!  Ye Old Farmer's Everyday Baking Almanac!
You've made me cry!




PS - Just between you and I, I'm also crying because I can't possibly bake and eat all these things today without gaining a hundred pounds and putting my liver and digestive system through the wringer.


Arg!  Ye Old Farmer's Everyday Baking Almanac!
You've made me cry even harder!
    











9 comments:

Kay said...

Sigh... I have a shelf-full of cookbooks which I rarely use anymore since mom does almost all the cooking now. I was never an enthusiastic cook, but you were probably loved by everyone. I know I'd love to have some apple squares!

TARYTERRE said...

I remember the same excitement. Times are so different now. I think tears are good for the soul. Memories are precious.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I know exactly how you feel. I love it when they come home so that I can make some of those old favorites. I read once about someone who kept her diary in her cookbook by making notes on the pages with the date things were made. I wish I had thought to do it. Good times are always accompanied by good food it seems.

Furry Bottoms said...

You had to go and crack me up with Tobias crying at the end, thanks a lot!

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

Yes MA -- I make notes in my cookbooks too. My kids laugh at me, but I just thought how it would save them trouble when they inherit these wonderful books.

Goody said...

I make all sorts of notes in cookbooks as well-might as well spare the next cook the failures.

I can vouch for the homeschooling=lots of baking thing. As I was already at home anyway, it just made sense to do my own baking. That ended up being a useful skill once the food allergies arrived and bakeries became off limits, but yes, there's a *lot* of time spent in the kitchen.

I'm sure once Danny moves away I'll get weepy at the sight of a Sally Lunn recipe (his favourite) though he tells me he's never leaving. They all say that when they're nine ;)

Goody said...

I make all sorts of notes in cookbooks as well-might as well spare the next cook the failures.

I can vouch for the homeschooling=lots of baking thing. As I was already at home anyway, it just made sense to do my own baking. That ended up being a useful skill once the food allergies arrived and bakeries became off limits, but yes, there's a *lot* of time spent in the kitchen.

I'm sure once Danny moves away I'll get weepy at the sight of a Sally Lunn recipe (his favourite) though he tells me he's never leaving. They all say that when they're nine ;)

Wisewebwoman said...

I'm with you I haul out a recipe of my mother's and weepies...years ago I put some scrapbooks together of recipes, the very favourites and I have little notes as to what guests I had or reactions to recipes or little notes on a salmon recipe that was always good - "blech salmon, I'm offya, tried this with scallops, yum".
I am hoping daughters appreciate them later....:)

XO
WWW

Kay G. said...

I am not a good cook or a good baker. Having said that, I do make good gluten free brownies and peanut butter cookies, and I loved to see the pleasure on my son's and husband's faces when they would come in the door to that wonderful smell from something freshly baked. Nothing like that! xx

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