Introducing: Tastes From Childhood

9/20/2015

Introducing:

Tastes from Childhood

by Susie E. Caron © 9/20/15

Do you recall some of the wonderful things you ate during your childhood? The changing seasons or holidays bring to mind the sights, tastes, and aromas of things cooking, or meals shared with loved ones. Memories like these are precious and we love to share them. However, in our busied lives sometimes we think, "Oh I'll bake that next year." or, "I should get that recipe from Auntie soon." or, "I'll put this in a cookbook to give to my kids when I retire."

What if you could easily do it now?
What if you could enjoy those tastes you remember again, and pass them along to loved ones?

That's why, in addition to my parenting articles, I've decided to add a regular blog article every month to a category I call Tastes From Childhood. In it I will share some of my recipes and memories, and I will give you opportunities to share some of yours! That’s right!!! You can submit your tasty memories by Guest Blogging right here. That way you can share your favorite food memories with your family and friends without having to cook or bake anything. Of course, you could bake, cook, or prepare it so you can share with your family. Then remember to send your photo of your food along with your guest blog. I'll provide some questions below, about the food, your memories about it, who introduced you to it, and why the memory is dear to you. How's that sound? If you are interested, see the rules below, and contact me at the following email address. contact@susiecaron.com

Here are the rules:
(Rules will continue to be available under the Guest Post tab above.)

Provide me with your name and email address. (Your email address will be kept confidential and will not be published, sold or shared with anyone.)

Send your short article 500-600 words along with the following:

1. title of your recipe or tasty food memory

2. your name or user name to post with your article.

3. a photo of the food, or of your family members enjoy it, (only with their permission please.)

4. the recipe and any special instructions needed to make it perfect.

Here are some questions you may want to answer, but feel free to be creative.

What brings this particular food or recipe to your mind?
Who introduced you to it?
When has it been prepared in your childhood? When have you served it as an adult?
How is this memory particularly dear or poignant to you?
Why do you want to share it with your family or others?

Please note: This is a family oriented and G rated site. I reserve the right to accept or decline guest blogs based on content and suitability. (If needed, I will edit for misspelling, punctuation, etc.) If your article is accepted I will try to post your guest blog based upon best time of year or holiday, if applicable. (That way you can send me holiday and seasonal articles months ahead if you wish.)

By submitting your recipe, photo and article you give me the right to post it on my blog on the scheduled date, as well as to re-post it at any time in the future. If you do not want to agree to this please do not send an article.

You will be notified when I receive your article and again when accepted, along with the date I plan to post it.

Special note to help you share your article: When your article is posted and you want to share your article with family and friends, you just click on your specific title (not the category). At the top in the address bar you will see a URL. Click on that to high-light it. Now copy it and paste it on your personal copy of the article (in Word) That is the specific address you will want to share with friends, family, on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. Of course you can shorten it, by pasting it into a URL shortener such as GoogleURLShortener and more easily share that link instead.

Thank you for reading. I look forward to posting your articles, recipes and photos soon. Hurry because the available dates will fill up fast. Here is my email again:

contact@susiecaron.com

Twee’ Means You and Me

& Together we are

Cooking Up Memories!

christina link

9/21/2015 06:20:56 pm

What a great idea, I will be checking back!

Susie link

9/21/2015 06:37:35 pm

Thank you Christina. Keep in touch and watch for the memories to come in. I'm so excited.

Paula Maier link

9/26/2015 04:01:41 pm

Thanksgiving: A Time For Enjoying Nature’s Bounty
Thanksgiving History:

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated between the Pilgrims and the Indians in 1621. That first feast was a three day affair. Life for the early settlers was difficult. The fall harvest was time for celebration. It was also a time of prayer, thanking God for a good crop. The Pilgrims and the Indians created a huge feast including a wide variety of animals and fowl, as well as fruits and vegetables from the fall harvest. This early celebration was the start of today’s holiday elebration.

After the first Thanksgiving, the observance was sporadic and almost forgotten until the early 1800’s. It was usually celebrated in late September or October. In 1941, Congress made it a national holiday and set the date as the fourth Thursday in November.

I wanted to share some of the family traditions that started as I was growing up, and those that I’ve tried to create for my children.

First and most important, All Are Welcome! You don’t have to be a blood-relative to enjoy our festivities. Many people who attended couldn’t go to be with their families for a variety of reasons. For 40 years, my grandfather’s horse trainer and his wife attended and were welcomed guests.

The day before all the kids (and dogs) and adults who could hustle, would play The Turkey Bowl. A highly unregulated, touch-football game that had a very clear lack of rules, and never seemed to have ‘a winner’, which is just the way we liked it.

This pre-Thanksgiving day began the turkey preparation. The bread was cubed and layer out to dry, the turkeys were cleaned and process began. One rule though; don’t enter the kitchen zone unless you planned to stay and learn. Students were welcomed, but transients were discouraged. I went in one year to soak up the knowledge that my Father displayed, and was exhausted by the end. It was intense.

Typically, I was in charge of decorations. We had a very long room that had three dedicated eight foot folding tables and chairs. We had family dinner in here every Monday night. In the 40s the mindset was that you didn’t have more kids than you could feed, and we were in the restaurant business…so we had a lot! I used my Mothers lovely linens, beautiful silver and decorated with gourds, candles, leaves and whatever theme inspired me that year. I considered it a place of pride to create a dramatic setting that paralleled the amazing flavors that my parents and siblings were creating in the kitchen.

Thanksgiving morning changed when I had my own children. I wanted to start a tradition that was ‘just ours’. So we would get up, make breakfast, spread out blankets and hot chocolate and watch the Macy’s Day Parade. We loved the balloons, the dancing and the excitement of eating on the floor! To this day we do this, though my 19 year old sleeps hrough half of it, but she still attends!

By afternoon we start to get ready and put on all of our finest holiday clothes. This was a special time when we sat in the living room where we typically were not allowed in when I was young. We looked spectacular, and always got special oliday pictures with my Mom (Dad was cooking).

Then the Thanksgiving prayer was read, and the feast was presented. Oh, it was a vision of opulent bounty. My Father made the best turkey, gravy and stuffing on the planet!!! It was the star over any side dish, or dessert which was just peripheral calories.

Afterwards we would clean up and play Scrabble or another board game while laughing into the night. Trying to continue these memories for my children without my parents is a challenge. The traditions have evolved and are different. I don’t have the skill level my Dad did at cooking turkey. All the siblings don’t get together anymore, but we do the best we can.

I wish all the best to all of you on this Thanksgiving holiday. Be safe.
Paula Maier has been blogging nationally for 8 years and enjoys sharing her tips on healthy cooking, fitness motivation and health tips with others.

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Susie Caron
Artist & Author
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