A couple of days ago, a friend posted a picture on Instagram of a pot of pasta sauce on the stove. It was her grandmother’s recipe. She mentioned that it smelled like home. With this memory, I can see a little [F] standing at the stove while her grandmother showed her all her secrets to her sauce. And more, I can see the love. I can see all the time they spent together with one generation teaching another. I never met [F]’s grandma, but I can see it through that one picture of pasta sauce. I could actually feel the warmth of the kitchen and smell the pasta sauce. That’s how powerful traditions are.
I wish I had memories like that. I wish my kids would have memories like that. We can’t change the past, we can just move forward and try to make the future what we want it to be. Therefore, I’m teaching my kids now. All sorts of tips and tricks, maybe like a grandma would give. I cook with my kids. I bake with my kids. I clean with my kids (because grandma’s had tons of cleaning tips, too!). I stand side by side and show them all the little things I’ve learned on my own. I not only share my recipes with them, but also the process involved in the recipes. I plan to do that as much as I can with my grandkids as well. I want my grandkids to grow up and make things “like grandma used to make”. Here’s a free tip that I just shared with Sunshine. Add a little sugar to the top of your pie crust. Coarse sugar is best, but plain granulated sugar works, too. Just a pinch. It makes all the difference. Life is easier, and a little sweeter, when you have people in it to show you the ropes.