Grandma's Best Recipes

In today’s modern world, we’re all spoiled with instant gratification.  The Internet, cell phones, WiFi, email and video chats provide us with many avenues to get what we need and get it fast.   Those cravings for mom’s apple  pie  or  Grandma’s  famous  chocolate  ice  cream  topping  can  be  gotten in a mere phone call or email.  If we see something on television, in a magazine or in a picture, we can hop on the Internet and get any one of a hundred recipes for it.  If we don’t feel like cooking, we can run to our favorite  restaurant  or  order  take-out.    We’re  definitely  blessed  with  a  much easier life than that of the previous generations.

Back in Grandma Dorothy’s day, life was much more limited and required people  to  be  creative.   The  lack  of  money,  the  Great  Depression  and  WWII  all  had  impacts  on  daily  life.    Many  meals  revolved  around  the  backyard  garden  or  what  limited  items  could  be  gotten  at  the  small  markets down the street.   

The literal term of “borrowing a cup of sugar”  was  actually  common,  and  something  that  connected  neighbors.    Meals were  home  cooked  and  were  eaten  together  at  the  family’s  table    a  wholesome life in more ways than one.

Grandma  Dorothy  and  most  of  the  Anderson  girls  were  children  of  the  Great Depression.  From GreatGrandma Selma and GreatGrandpa John, they  learned  to  live  within  their  means.   Basic  skills  such  as  cooking,  sewing, and gardening were taught early, and all had a part in daily life.  For many of us, myself included, if we were asked to bake a homemade loaf of bread, we’d give you a blank, panicked look.  For GreatGrandma Selma,  she  could  whip  up  the  best  bread  in  no  time  flat.   I  have  fond  memories of going with Grandma Dorothy to her house and enjoying a piece  of  her  famous  freshly  baked  bread  and  butter.   I’ve  tried  to  reproduce her recipe and failed miserably every time.  She just had that special touch.

And this is in essence Sarah's story, told in food and recipes, with joy and with love.&...