LIVING WITH ART BLOG

The other day I got a text from Amanda, the Director of the Paseo Arts Association, reminding me that I had not yet sent my favorite recipes to be published in the upcoming Paseo Arts Cookbook. Initially, when invited to participate, I explained to her that I don’t cook very often anymore as all of my favorite meals can be found at Picasso’s, Paseo Grill, Frida’s, Soup Soup, Legends, the Red Rooster, The Prairie Gypsies, Cheevers and What’s Cooking. My mother had been an excellent cook and I promised to look through a box of her recipes and select a few for consideration. That evening I came home and began my search. “The Box” is stored in a special cabinet along with a stash of other memorabilia. While looking through the cabinet I found a handwritten note that my late husband, John, gave me for our 20th year wedding anniversary that brought tears to my eyes. There were also other special cards, photographs and newspaper clippings that I have been saving for years. When I finally opened “The Box,” I found not only my beloved mother's recipes, but a life-time of food related memories... just in time for Thanksgiving.

Mother was an organized person. Consequently, her recipes were typed on file cards and arranged topically. While looking for specific recipes of the dishes I have loved all my life, I found a section of Economy Meals, Menus and Recipes for large Church Suppers, Weddings and other Special Events as well as a section of “Magic Menus” guaranteed to promote health and weight loss. Mother had written, “Remember… absolutely no food between meals. However, if still hungry at bedtime, drink one glass of tomato juice.” The “Economy Meals” section surprised me because I grew up loving those meals. I had no idea they were inexpensive because the food was so good and always joyfully presented. Mother’s "Economy Breakfast" consisted of a baked apple, bran muffins, crisp bacon and coffee. I always thought that breakfast was a great change from what I considered to be an ordinary routine breakfast of eggs. On another file card mother had listed four very imaginative Egg Dishes with this note, “Don’t save ham, bacon, sausages, corned beef hash, kidneys. liver, etc., just for Sunday’s.” Her recipe for one of my very favorite dishes, “Ruth’s Vegetable Beef Soup” recommended including Short Ribs of Beef as well as Diced Stew Meat. Not only can I taste the food when I read the receipts, I can see the table where we ate all that wonderful food complete with a centerpiece, specific dishes and flatware. 

When I was young, we used a set of FiestaWare. My color was yellow, and Mother’s was turquoise. That’s why I was so delighted when John Wolfe painted place settings of FiestaWare for a show in my first gallery. Naturally, I purchased the painting that featured our plate colors, which currently hangs in my kitchen. Gradually throughout her life, Mother acquired more and more sets of dishes and silverware, including “Moss Rose” china by Rosenthal and "Grand Baroque" flatware by Wallace. She would always insist on formal place settings for birthdays and other special occasions. From the time that I was in grade school my special job was to find something pretty to place on the table to enhance our meals. I could use something in the house like a bowl of fruit or a particularly lovely vase or sculpture; bring in Magnolia branches, flowers, or pinecones from our yard. Or, to create my own decorations out of paper, ribbon, an arrangement of dolls, Easter Eggs, or anything else I found interesting. I am sure some of my selections were quite strange, but I loved that job and continue to freshen my table often. It’s such a pleasurable thing.

This Thanksgiving is going to be different for all of us. Mine will be filled with memories. Someone is cooking and delivering a meal to me. I had not planned to cook at all. But since reading Mother’s receipt for Easy Rolls, which are made with mashed potatoes and are absolutely delicious, I may break open a cake of yeast and bake a new memory. 

Images:

A Fiesta Still Life by John Wolfe

"Freedom from Want" by Norman Rockwell

"Moss Rose" chia by Rosenthal

"Grand Baroque" flatware by Wallace Silversmiths

"Banquet Still Life" by Floris van Dyck