Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Cooking inspirations

I put the first post up just as a test to see if I like the format and style, I need to do some tweaking but I am happy with how it looks so far. Any feedback would be appreciated. I planned to officially announce the site on January 1 but due to a lack of paying attention on my part I sort of leaked the blog. I thank you guys for the encouragement.

I really love to cook and in the past 5 years or so I got more into food thanks to the Food Network. I don't watch much TV but when I do it is usually food related programs. While this is what recently got me more into food, the original inspiration was my parents. My Dad was an adventurous eater as he was in the Air Force and got to travel the world trying new foods. My Mom was more of a traditional comfort food kind of cook. She passed away when I was 6 but I still have her only cookbook that most of the recipes in my house came from. (my grandma had a strange penchant for all things Bisquick but I won't get into that now)

So I promise the future blog posts will be food and cooking steps, even some of my mundane thrown together quick meals will be documented, but for now I'd like to share my Mom's cookbook with you all.






This is a regional thing that never fails to crack me up. In Western PA one does not eat hamburger, you eat Hamburg. Yes, a little bit of Germany in your recipes.


This is another older term that Tom (the picky Significant Other) was baffled by, Oleo. Oleo is what margarine was referred to when I was growing up.


There are some hand written recipes from my Mom which are special to me. You would think I would be rushing to make this to relive this childhood memory, but that childhood dish is firmly planted in my memory as tasting like paste and creating a cement like starch ball in my mouth and gut. Still, this was better than my grandma's Bisquick creations any day.


This dish I do remember eating a lot of and adoring. This is pure comfort food to me and I still get cravings for it.

I will be doing a recipe from this cookbook coming up soon so I look forward to sharing that with you!
Posted by at

15 comments:

  1. PeanutDecember 25, 2007 at 6:41 PM

    that is great you have your mother's old coookbook. Can't wait for more recipes.

    Rachelle

    ReplyDelete
  2. DeannaDecember 25, 2007 at 7:55 PM

    I love food blogs! It looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Judi W.December 25, 2007 at 10:31 PM

    I have some of my hubby's grandmother's recipes ... I was stumped when one called for sweet milk ...

    ReplyDelete
  4. 2shibasDecember 25, 2007 at 10:58 PM

    This made me cry! I can only imagine how much you treasure that cookbook - and to have the handwritten recipes from your mom is so awesome. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    I'm also really into cooking and watching the Food Network - it's taught me so much. I had a food blog through a newspaper that I worked for as a freelance food critic, but the newspaper (and therefore my blog!) went out of business. (Was it something I said?) Haha. Anyway, maybe you'll inspire me to start one up again. I look forward to reading this blog between barking back and forth in the dog blogs! : )

    Frannie (Wiley & Fievel's mom)

    ReplyDelete
  5. The WriggleButtsDecember 26, 2007 at 3:21 AM

    Ha! This is neat! I'm certainly going to drop by here. :)

    Ane - the WriggleButtMom ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. FerndoggleDecember 26, 2007 at 5:07 AM

    I love the new blog. In addition to Dog Blogs, I'm addicted to food blogs, so I'm glad to add another to my list of daily reads!

    I love those kind of cookbooks...the ones with the handwritten recipes. I have a church cookbook from my Mom that has recipes donated by my now deceased Grandmother. It's so funny to read the cooking instructions and ingredients.

    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ruby BleuDecember 26, 2007 at 6:35 AM

    ahhhh Tuna Noodle Casserole...my all time favorite and I have to admit I still make it every once in a while...albeit a little more 'foodie' than just using canned peas...LOL!

    Thanks so much for sharing this. I'm really looking forward to reading your blog!

    Michele

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sophie BradorDecember 26, 2007 at 7:45 AM

    Hey Rhonda, You're making us all hungry over here. I can sort of relate to your lasagna recipes. My mom must have used the same recipe!

    I wonder if oleo was an American term? I know it, but only from crossword puzzles. I don't think we ever used it in Canada.

    Good luck with your food blog! Hug the pups for me.

    xo
    Sherry (Sophie's mom)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ozzie, Rocky and LolaDecember 26, 2007 at 11:25 AM

    I have soooo many cookbooks and I especially enjoy the community cookbooks like the one you featured in your blog. My husband is from Altoona, PA. He just got a cookbook published by the Catholic school he attended when he was a little boy. It was printed in the 70's and had alot of neat recipes. I will really enjoy checking in on your cooking blog!
    Tammy
    Mom to Two Wild 'n Crazy Guyz

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lillie ValentineDecember 26, 2007 at 1:09 PM

    This is a GREAT blog. Glad you leaked it on Tanner and Joeys site. I would have to LEAVE Lillie out to do any kind of cooking, or tie her up in the Living Room. She'd be sampling everything. Look forward to some cooking lessons. Amy (lillie's mom)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Turbo's HumanDecember 26, 2007 at 1:30 PM

    The best cookbooks are the regional ones. I look forward to visiting your blog. I think of myself as a good cook because my mom was a bad one!

    ReplyDelete
  12. JessicaDecember 26, 2007 at 6:54 PM

    I saw "Dining Alone" on a few comment pages the other day and I was wondering who you were. This blog is a great idea. I'll be back to find out what wonderful things you are cooking up.

    I know what you mean about dining alone. My husband is a meat and potato man and I love all and any kind of food. We even have a hard time picking out a restaurant we both agree on.

    Thanks for sharing your Mothers cookbook with us. Very touching...

    Jessica (Seadra and Zoe's Mom)

    ReplyDelete
  13. wallyDecember 26, 2007 at 7:05 PM

    Hello Joe's Mom. Food rules! And my ma ape is from Nebraska and her granny called it Oleo, too.

    I guess you're not going to be dining alone since we're all watching like salivating dogs, begging at the table!

    wally (& chef ma ape)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Patience-pleaseDecember 26, 2007 at 9:16 PM

    I know what you mean about having your mom's cookbook and hand written recipes being so special! I had my mom until I was 20, but I still treasure those.
    I think your new blog is going to be one of my favorites!

    Patience

    ReplyDelete
  15. vixJanuary 2, 2008 at 9:34 PM

    AWESOME YAY! I love this and will add it to my regular rotation. Wonderful idea. Love the cookbook too -- what a wonderful item to cherish! :)

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)