If you were in our home at mealtime you were invited to stay…and many folks did. It was the way in Mum’s family home growing up in rural New Brunswick, and it was a practice she and my father honored the whole of their lives. Saying that everyone is welcome at my table is oneContinue reading “The Sea, food, chowder…and the Scots”
Author Archives: elizalyonsmorrison
Cookies, biscuits and cookie power!
Many of us have happy memories of cookies and the special cooks who made them, my husband included. For most of the last 32 years I have been hearing about “Mrs Bowers” and her molasses biscuits. The warm and special memories Ray has of this kind and caring soul are a child’s memories. During theContinue reading “Cookies, biscuits and cookie power!”
My Mother’s Cookbooks and How We Got Here Genealogy…
Happy to share this link, of my conversation with Brian Nash from How We Got Here Genealogy for Atlantic Canadians in The food that made our Ancestors great, webcast on Youtube. Brian and I discuss how I became involved in genealogy and in blogging about My Mother’s Cookbooks. We chat food, its role in familyContinue reading “My Mother’s Cookbooks and How We Got Here Genealogy…”
Family, food and a feed of Smelts.
“Do you want a feed of Smelts?” is still commonly heard in many areas of Atlantic Canada and it is usually closely followed by the question “are they cleaned”? Mum did not enjoy cleaning fish and wild game. Knowing the cooking would fall to her, she was quick to quashed the idea that she wouldContinue reading “Family, food and a feed of Smelts.”
Comfort food, Leftovers and Bread Pudding
Just because a food is traditional to a community or group does not mean it was eaten by everyone in it. It is interesting how individual and varied food choices are, despite major underlying similarities…A few years ago, Ray and I were attending a conference out of province, a good friend offered to ‘stay in’Continue reading “Comfort food, Leftovers and Bread Pudding”
Baked Beans and …the Scots.
This blog is the first in a series which will feature early Scottish settlers to the Atlantic region and the McDougald, MacEachern; McKinnon and McGraw families among others… The tradition of enjoying a Saturday night supper of homemade baked beans is one familiar to families through out Atlantic Canada. Of course there are several versionsContinue reading “Baked Beans and …the Scots.”
Holiday Favourites, Frying pan cookies and canned peas…
Recently, while browsing through some of the recipes in the My Mother’s Cookbooks collection I came across one of Mum’s handwritten holiday menus. A list of all of the special foods she planned to prepare, share and serve during the season. It contained all of the usual suspects, Squash Puff, Cornish Pasties, Whipped Shortbreads, Buttertarts,Continue reading “Holiday Favourites, Frying pan cookies and canned peas…”
The ‘making’ of Cape Breton Pork Pies…
Cape Breton Pork Pies don’t contain pork, but they do resemble the hat1. The origin of this tiny tart, a shortbread base, filled with dates and topped with a carefully piped cap of maple icing is unknown, although some credit Acadians for inspiring them. There is little doubt that Acadian settlers to the region dependedContinue reading “The ‘making’ of Cape Breton Pork Pies…”
Christmas Doughnuts and House Girls…
There were many baked treats on Mum’s Christmas preparation list, but only one item warrants two versions…Doughnuts. The most Canadian of doughnuts does not come from a coffee shop, it does not have maple icing or a fancy name…it is a cake doughnut made with molasses. Once fried, the doughnuts may be rolled in granulatedContinue reading “Christmas Doughnuts and House Girls…”
Friends, Fruit and Sultana Cake
For Mum Christmas Holiday baking began in October. Fruit cakes, plum puddings, gum drop cakes, things which need curing were first, followed by the long list of sweets and savories treats which had become favourites in our family. Christmas baking for Mum meant focusing on special recipes those reserved for Christmas, including Elizabeth Moody’s Sultana1Continue reading “Friends, Fruit and Sultana Cake”
My Mother's Cookbooks 