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Memories of Grandma
I was seven years old when my younger sister Joy and I lived with our Grandma. I have distinct memories of Grandma in the kitchen always making a hearty home cooked meal for Dad and us girls and preparing extra to take to the neighbors. Grandma had the talent for cooking especially for a crowd, and she was continuously making plans for holiday picnics and special occasion sit down dinners. Every relative, friend and neighbor was invited. The more the merrier. Grandma continuously served her community and for many years she served on committees to organize fundraising banquets for our Church. Everyone in the small town of Alpine, Utah looked forward to these family style dinners. I remember the south basement wing of the old maroon church house packed with people. Long tables reached the entire length of the banquet hall, covered with white newsprint paper and decorated for the season. One could expect the most mouth watering home cooked meal served piping hot. These church banquets presented a special opportunity for talented cooks to prepare their famous home cooked dishes. Grandma’s well known bread dressing was a hit every time. She never used a recipe – she used coarsely broken homemade bread, fresh country eggs and milk. This dish was seasoned to perfection with chopped onion, celery, bacon drippings and home-grown sage. It was never too moist and never too dry, just light fluffy and delicious. Grandma seemed to master every recipe she would try. I remember her big (melt in your mouth) light and yummy dinner rolls. Her roast beef and turkey gravy, her perfect baked beans, raisin filled cookies, huge cinnamon rolls spread with her secret frosting recipe and topped with chopped walnuts. Grandma always made homemade hand-churned ice cream that she covered with her famous hot fudge topping. At birthday and wedding celebrations you could count on Grandmas beautifully decorated cakes to be served with gorgeous frosting roses and if you were ordering a cake from Grandma you would have to reserve early and on many occasions names were on a waiting list. Sundays were special. We could all look forward to a piece of Grandma’s famous banana cream or coconut cream pie. In 1963 when I was seventeen years old Grandma passed away of breast Cancer. This has inspired me to help support American Cancer Society and Cancer Research. When I married and started my family I had a desire to cook like Grandma. My Aunt Helen and Aunt Emily, Grandmas daughter in laws were fortunate enough to master their cooking skills around Grandma. I mastered mine with my two Aunts as teachers. Cooking and serving Grandmas wonderful recipes to family and friends for many years has brought me much joy and satisfaction. I now look forward to the opportunity to share Grandmas dishes here at the Country Cottage Café with all who appreciate and love good home cooking. |
In honor of my Grandma Ethel Marie Bates Beck I want to dedicate this Country Cottage Café to her for her passion to please others and for sharing her talents and her love of cooking with so many. It is my intention to follow her example and give as she did.