When all things seem lost and hopeless there are a few things I always turn back to. One of them is my mom. She has decided to be the first contributor in my new adventure of a food brand. Without my mom and dad nothing I'm doing would be possible from helping me with college to showing me how to be a decent person, and so many other things I wouldn't be anywhere without them.
My mom, though, cooked meals 5-6 times a night, made me lunch as a kid, and I have no clue how. AND, did it for 5 children. I cook for a living and struggle to figure out how she did this as I know have to come home and cook for myself. Even though the food she made wasn't always 2 Michelin star worthy, it's where I get most of my inspiration today. Trying to cook the things my mom made me growing up and making everyone I meet love them. She was there when I was trying to cook clam chowder and burgers for the first time. Telling me what I was doing wrong and how hot things need to be and so on. Now the roles have reversed whenever I come home, but I'll always have the Nostalgic memories of sitting down at the dinner table and us eating our cube steaks, mac n cheese, meatloafs, and goulash. Thank you mother and thanks for writing our first special guest blog post. Here she is talking about beans...
Growing up there was one food that brought our family together.. Baked Beans. Yes, most people will laugh but it was an experience. My Nana and Mom were the creators of this amazing dish. I was about 7 when I first experienced this delight. It was a process like no other.
The beans would soak overnight. The anticipation was almost unbearable. The next morning it was off to the butcher.. walking and holding my Mom’s hand, for real salt pork. I remember when he tore the brown paper from the roll that we were getting closer. Once back home... the beans would be rinsed and then I would climb up on the chair to watch. I remember asking my Mom how much of this and how much of that she added. The answer was I don’t know... I just throw it in. Ok..until the 5 pound bag of sugar came out and she just started pouring... and kept pouring. The smell of these luscious little beans cooking ... I can still smell them!
The most popular meal for these beans was at camp in North Hero, Vermont. Honestly it was the highlight of the trip. We would gather at the big round wooden table in the middle of the one room that served as living room and kitchen. The plastic tablecloth really spruced it up! There was this HUGE lightbulb overhead. ( I’m setting the stage here). Each night we would make baked bean sandwiches.... yes that’s right. On bread...warmed up beans. My Dad always added ketchup. How could he?.. all you needed was beans. Anyway... then we would play cards... pinochle. Eating the beans, playing cards and my grandmother cursing at all the bugs that were swirling around that HUGE lightbulb!
Life was a lot simpler back in the 60’s. I wouldn’t trade this meal for anything. My daughter and I ....as well as Tim have tried to re-create the recipe. There never was one written down... they just threw it in. I think it has some thing to do with not being able to pour sugar from the bag. When you say nostalgic meal... this is it for me! Still have the pot....
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