This below has nothing to do with travel other than the fact that Ruth and I like to cook for grandchildren who travel. We were with 3 of them over Thanksgiving, and one morning I made pancakes for them. This is a ritual. It’s a special recipe for pancakes that I developed after years of trial and error. Disney characters became involved when I added two circles for ears. The next generation really likes my pancakes, and they make this recipe often at home. They put chocolate morsels into my pancakes, however, and I don’t.
Tonight for dinner Ruth and I will dine on her Mom’s meatloaf recipe and my celery soup. My soup is an old recipe that begins with 2 pounds of celery. It also calls for potatoes and herbs like pepper and thyme. Because I have not made it recently, it will not be in our gift recipe book. Mom’s meatloaf, an old recipe that Ruth is famous for, will be in the book because she has spent her time this week typing 26 of our grandkids favorite recipes to include in this gift. In the book will be such stalwarts as Popcorn Chicken and a cherry desert that Ruth and I always make for special occasions.
Our daughter gets the credit for thinking up this gift. Because she inherited my desire to travel, she is currently in Antarctica as we speak about this cooking idea that she dreamed up to surprise our grandkids as we gather to celebrate the season. Among the special recipes included will be an appetizer that includes salmon that her son dotes on and the Popcorn Chicken that her other son expects to eat at our house. Hopefully, this recipe book will become a family heirloom.
One of the special recipes in our book is a candy called Divinity that Ruth recalls making with her aunt while growing up. Ruth looks forward to having Norma’s candy to eat on Christmas morning this year. I heard Ruth on the phone this week talking to Norma’s daughter Margie about making Divinity. Unfortunately, the recipe for this candy has not been around for years, and Ruth was hoping that Margie would recall how to make it. She did not have this recipe either, but Margie recalled where her mother got it and tracked it down. As Margie described this candy, a memory was triggered in Ruth’s brain and Ruth recalled making Divinity as a child with Norma. We look forward to sharing this special candy recipe that my daughter has requested for the book. Ruth & I look forward to sharing it with the next generation this Christmas.
We hope that our inspiration will trigger memories in your family, and that you will think of something special from the past to share with your next generation at this 2022 holiday time that is about to be upon us. Act while the relatives involved are still alive. Get to thinking about what you might do to make this a joyous instead of an ordinary season.
Hank
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