Still Learning to Cook

I grew up in a home where food was central to every event. Birthdays, graduations, get togethers, after church on Sundays, funerals, bad days, good days, every kind of days - and the question was always, "What will we serve?" In the kitchen my mother was a great example. Even though she always worked outside of the home she cooked a lot and tried to present everything prettily. There was extra food for unexpected guests and she was constantly trying new foods. Twenty-five years ago I was probably the first person in Georgia who had actually eaten shark at home. It tasted like broiled lemon pepper fish:). The problem with Mama's cooking is that I never picked it up from her. I could make an egg sandwich, tuna fish and kool-aid, so Ray swallowed a lot of peanut butter the first year we were married. He was gracious to at least try the bisquits that even the birds at seminary wouldn't eat. Thankfully I could read and follow a recipe and learned a few good meals. Now I'm trying to teach the girls to cook and they are quickly passing me. Rachel has mastered fried chicken, bisquits, and desserts. She enjoys making cakes and decorating them for others and sets a pretty table. Hannah started making bread a year ago by hand and since a friend gave us a small bread machine a few months ago she is making all our family bread now. Her pizza crusts are my favorite. Sarah is beginning to prove her own in the kitchen. In the past week Sarah made lemon squares and with a friend she made some wonderful salsa verde. Mary has the best stirring arm in the family as long as she can sit on the counter.
Because God has blessed our garden so much we are all now learning to can and store vegetables. Though in the past I've put up a small amount here and there I can't say I was ever successful. My mom tried to get me to help and learn but I'm afraid I am just now learning with my girls. Even last week she was showing me how to pickle cucumbers, squash and peppers. It took a recipe book with step by step instructions written out, but now we have a beautiful batch of dill pickles. (I haven't tasted them yet, but at least they're pretty.) What a wonderful thing for me to see the girls picking, washing, and snapping beans along with the usual chatter of our house. Not only are they learning and having a good time, they are a lot of help. And that's a good thing because Ray just brought in ten more gallons of beans to can.