Sentimental Kitchen

Most people would not describe me as a sentimental person. However, there are a few things that I purposefully hold onto. I was thinking about this recently when I was using two of my favorite kitchen things from two of my favorite people.

I love this photo. It is a rare picture of me with both of my grandmothers.

They lived in different towns about 4 hours apart. So we were normally either with one side of the family or the other, but seldom with both simultaneously. But they both were with me when I graduated from college. Grandma Gracie(maternal) is on the left and Grandmother Thelma (paternal) is on the right. I was so blessed by each of them.

Today I want to share with you a little something I happen to have from each of them and how they both make my kitchen a happy place.

My Grandmother Thelma lived in a rural Alabama area close to the Mississippi State line. She was always looking for ways to help others and make the community better. One of the many things she did was open a daycare so families would have a safe place to leave their children while they worked. That daycare was a part of my childhood. I always remember her doing work for it, us occasionally visiting it, but mostly how appreciative the community was to have it. When she retired and the daycare closed, my dad brought this home to me.

It was the biggest muffin pan I had ever seen. I was thrilled. It baked many cupcakes through my kids elementary years, many muffins for brunches and lately more Amish cinnamon muffins than you can imagine.

The same day I was reminiscing about it, I was also making soup in this

My Grandma Gracie’s favorite color was red. She was seriously the best cook I have ever known and she loved generously through her food. I have still not mastered having a quantity of food sufficient for whatever crowd gathers at my house. I don’t know how she did it, but there was always plenty no matter who stopped by. And it was always good. Some of my fondest memories were in her kitchen. My mom actually bought this red set of cookware for her and my aunt was kind enough to give it to me after my Grandma passed away.

I have shared this before, but in case you missed it ….. this is my Grandma Gracie’s Italian Vegetable soup Recipe

It is quite nice to have a couple of items from these amazing ladies. They shared loved with so many and did it so well through good food. I am happy to think of them both as I try to carry on the legacy.

Hope you enjoy some good memories in your kitchen this week…….maybe pull out one of those old recipes and make it part of this week’s meals.

Have a great week!