< go2 My Guidee

One summer morning I stood in my kitchen where my Nonna, or Italian Grandma had been working since dawn, kneading her strong hands through pizza dough. Pizza that for me has no equal, not even in the culinary heaven that is New York City. She sat now in the middle of the room, watching the oven as intently as a potter studies clay, while I basked in the warmth and aroma of fresh tomatoes, herbs, and cheeses skillfully prepared by hand. A sense of pride surged through me as she showed me every detail, I knew I was the chosen one to carry the old traditions to a new generation. A tradition that integrated labor, love, and food to create family.

e

e

That warm feeling began to recede, however, as the realization set in that when my Grandmother was gone, so too would be the pizza. I mean, seriously, I'm not getting up at the crack of dawn to cook dinner for my kids. To be honest, some days they're lucky to get breakfast! And I don't think I'm alone. Many of us would love to recreate the traditions of our youth with our children, but are finding that today's hectic lifestyle doesn't permit.  

e

e 

It may be difficult to bring back the past, but not impossible. Homemade cooking takes patience and planning. There was a time I consoled myself for my inability to achieve the domestic accomplishments of Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray, and my grandma by believing they weren't quite human. But the truth is when something is important enough, we make the time for it. If you look at Martha's magazine, you'll notice her calendar of activities for the month. Why not schedule the time you need to pull out old recipes, gather materials, and visit farmer's markets, just like you would any other appointments? Take a deep breath, focus on what's important to you, and start a project--even if the results are disastrous at first, you'll laugh at it some day (I promise!).

e

For me, time devoted to a small garden every spring allows me a summer and fall filled with opportunities to travel back -- way back -- to a time when I was a child and it was ok to stand in the hot sun with nothing but a ruffled bathing suit bottom and blonde curls, with the plants towering way over my head.

e

Watching my children now pop warm, sweet tomatoes in their mouths and nibble on the fragrant basil as I once did, doesn't just take me to a sentimental past but inspires me to move forward. Maybe today I'll slow down the pace just a little bit, enjoy the whole process of providing food for my family, and give them something from the past they can take with them in the future.

&

&

&

&

For more ideas on recipes from the past visit these great articles from

e

Rachel Ray Family Heirloom

e

Martha Stewart Old time favorites

&

And to share your traditions and recipes visit my group

A taste of the past

&

Or the group's upcoming event, Holiday Cookie Favorites.

&

 < go2 My Guide

I so agree with you on this!!!

My ancestors are Irish and even though our food and traditions may be different than yours, the value that comes from passing this heritage on to the next generation is more important than words can express.

One of the things that helps make the world such a beautiful and colorful place is our many varied cultures.  If we lose these traditions to time, then what a bland and tasteless world this will be.

And by the way, I'm definitely going to check out your group. 

I loved this piece.  Not only was it beautifully written - I could actually picture your Nonna watching the oven - but it was inspiring.  My ancestors were part European and part Native American and honestly I don't know as much about my ancestral heritage as I should.  After reading your article, I'm now motivated to find out more.

What a beautiful story!  And I totally agree with you on the importance of making time for things like this for our children.  Heritage and traditions are part of who we are and where we come from.  I know that I try to do this with my own children.  My children are worth the extra time it takes.

I grew up growing and picking our own vegatables and fruit.  Preparing them, canning and baking.  It's worth the love and sweat you put into it.  And when cooking traditionally or from scratch, fresh herbs, vegatables and fruit are the only way to go.  I agree with you completely and although the time to do all this is hard to come by these days, spending this kind of time with your family pays off in more ways than just their stomachs.

I find myself to be very embarrassed about how much I do not know about cooking. My father is full-blood persian. Let me tell you, they make big meals; three times a day; hardly any exceptions. I grew up to the smell of steamed rice. Best rice in the world. I promise. :) All different types. My brother and I would walk through the front door and bet on who could smell out the right foods dad had prepared for us. 

There is so much of my childhood I want my daughter to experience. The persian food and culture. Traveling, scenic hikes, learning natural remedies. Even baking oatmeal cookies (without the raisens), just like grandma!

I enjoyed this piece very much.  It has sent an array of memories through my mind.  Gotta love it!

Jordan,  this piece came from exactly the place you describe.  I was overwhelmed at how much I wanted to share with my children and how little I thought I could do!  That's why I suggest just selecting a few things that you enjoy and are willing to commit to.  The garden for me was a starting point for reliving old memories and starting new ones.   I would love to hear more about Persian food, especially the rice ~ I've burned mine more times than I'd like to admit.

What a wonderful way it is to pass on the traditions of our heritage and our cultures than to pass down a family recipe or two. Some of my most cherished times are spending them with my children in the kitchen. This is a wonderful story Jojo!