A family tradition of cooking together
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- November
- 28
A coworker used the term “food overdose” this morning to describe the feeling she had when she got up hungry but not interested in eating after yesterday’s big bash.
I thought that was a perfect description for those of us fortunate enough to have a big feast on Thanksgiving. And where others might use the description “family overdose” for the same after-holiday lookback, it was a pleasant time for our family even though my in-laws couldn’t make the 500-mile trip that has become our family tradition. We just took their change in plans in stride.
My oldest and I invaded the kitchen early yesterday to make dessert. My mother-in-law is a pie specialist and my oldest seems to have inherited her light touch. Since we would be without our expected influx of sweets, we debated doing something different for our after-turkey time, but quickly determined that we wanted to keep to our traditions. So while I peeled apples and searched the pantry for two cans of pumpkin I knew I had in there somewhere, my oldest brought out the Betty Crocker Cookbook and looked up the directions for both apple and pumpkin pie. As a nod to expanding our offerings, I decided on a tray of baklava.
I think of all the Thanksgiving traditions, cooking together is one of the best. When my babes were younger, I would put them to work grinding nuts, peeling carrots and potatoes and (under supervision, of course) chopping celery and other ingredients for stuffing and our vegetable dish. Now that they’re older, I can leave some of the preparation to them entirely.
Eventually they’ll be off on their own and creating their own traditions. I hope that cooking together will be one of them. Working with my daughter reminded me of the many good times I had in my mother’s kitchen, and every time I took out a pot that used to be hers, or added a side dish that once graced my parents’ table, I was thankful for the time I had with my parents and the laughter and good food we once shared. I hope that’s a legacy I pass on to my own children — a chance to be thankful for present comforts and memories.
This entry was posted
on Friday, November 28th, 2008 at 11:15 am by Randi Weiner.
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My kids played a big part in the kitchen this year. I’m betting it’s the Thanksgiving they will always remember – whether or not I use the photo of them wearing goggles to chop onions as our holiday card!!
What a great post! I think it’s so important to get the kids involved in creating tradition. They also have some adorable aprons and cooking utensils for kids with recipes. Love to see the kids all decked out.