Why food legacies are important

I'm not usually one to quote but his quote is one of my favourites, and comes from the god-father of slow food, Carlo Petrini:

"The greatest models of gastronomy come from women and not from chefs"

I've mentioned before that I come from a family of foodies.  Food is the common bond (apart from the obvious) in our family and we use food to show love and also we use it as a common interest.  Even in tense times (no family is perfect we all have disagreements right?) many fences are mended over making a salad, taking time out to wash the dishes or sharing a recipe everyone's enjoyed right?

Whenever I'm sick, I want my Mum.  Even though I have a husband who is wonderful when I'm sick (and not so great at reciprocating that, that's another story..) I always crave my mother's hugs, a stroke to my forehead and her cooking.  I so miss her cooking.  It's sad we live so far away from each other and I can't get that bit of comfort when I need it.

These days with my own household and trying to foster that love of food in my little frills and already they have 'favourite meals' and meals they request when they are sick. They have birthday treats and 'special meals' they like to request at special times.  

Most of these recipes aren't particularly complicated but they come from the heart and that's really what matters isn't it?  For me, that's my Mum's chicken cacciatore.  To be honest whilst I'm sick I'm sure my mother's vegemite on toast would have healing powers - she puts 'just' the right amount on.

I asked my Mum what the favourite dish of her mother (my Nan) was: 'Lambs fry and bacon - not sure what she does but it's delicious no one does it like her'.  I haven't had this yet but I think I'm going to request it now.  In this same conversation my Mum also said she has such positive associations with making pastry and dough - this she learned from her father, and he from his mother.

  'I can still to this day feel his big hands cradling mine as he taught me to knead dough'.  

I think that exact sentence will live with me always.  You guys know about how I love bread and dough.  I feel so connected to that sentence - probably a lot more than my Mum realised she relayed her own food legacy.

So my friends, even if you're not from a family of foodies, you think you're a very basic cook or don't think you have anything special to offer your children in terms of taste, process and food appreciation - you DO.  

You have an amazing opportunity to pass something down to your children - not only your favourite recipes - simple or otherwise - but as an extension of yourself - how you like food.  It could be as simple as vegemite on toast.

Do you have a favourite way your Mum does things or do your kids have one?


Psst, go over and spoil yourself or your Mum with the Lindt giveaway this month!

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