Pass the Memories, Please!
Many of us learned to cook from our family members. Cooking is a great bonding opportunity, and a chance to pass recipes down to younger generations of budding chefs.
Ashley from Ossining, New York, grew up cooking alongside her grandparents. Here, she shares two favorite recipes that remind her of them.
Dutch Apple Pie
“Many of my fondest childhood memories take place in my grandma’s kitchen in Leo, Indiana. When I was a kid I would spend a lot of time with her and my grandpa. They both enjoyed being in the kitchen and really helped to nurture my enthusiasm for cooking and baking. I remember making “soup” for them – they’d let me raid the cabinets and combine spices, herbs, condiments, and water in a giant pot and let it “simmer”, without the stovetop actually being on, until it was ready. I’d serve it to them and they would pretend to eat it and it always got rave reviews.”
“One of the most special things we would make together was apple pie. My grandma would let me help her make the whole thing from start to finish. Rolling the pie crusts out was always so much fun, and snacking on the trimmings quickly became my favorite part of the process. We’d always make extra pie crust so that we could make one normal-sized pie for the family as well as a smaller pie, in my own mini pie plate, that was just for me. There was something so special about having my very own pie and seeing the literal fruits of our labor come together in a delicious dessert. Grandpa always insisted that we top the warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream, and I definitely did not argue with that!”
“This tradition is one that I’ve brought to my own kitchen now that I’m an adult with a child of my own. There’s just something special about getting your hands dirty, having a bit of flour fly around, and waiting while your house fills with the glorious smell of hot apple pie. And he loves getting his own mini pie, too! This Dutch Apple Pie recipe is one that I have made with my grandma and it will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
Grandpa Henderson’s Beef Stew
“I would be remiss not to mention one of the recipes that I made with my grandpa in that same Midwest kitchen – my all-time favorite Beef Stew. It’s a hearty, delicious, stick-to-your-ribs meal that gets better and better as it sits in the refrigerator. It holds up beautifully in the freezer, too, and it has become my go-to meal to cook for friends when they have a new baby or other big life change where they could use a home-cooked meal.”
“Food is so special, and it’s a great way to keep memories of our loved ones close. I hope that the food memories that my son makes with me in our kitchen will stick with him for years to come!”
Thank you so much for sharing these special memories, Ashley! We love that you are keeping both the recipes and the tradition alive with your own child.
Follow Ashley on Instagram and check out her blog, “Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen,” for more recipes inspired by her family!
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