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”
Tag Archives: #womenshistory
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…”
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…”
Corn, Buckwheat, …and two miles from Shediac, on the road to Cocagne.
Part two of the life and death of Mercy Babcock Hall… Too many of us know only porridge1 made of oatmeal and see it exclusively as a breakfast food. That these misconceptions exist demonstrates just how much the lives and diet of ordinary Eastern North Americans (Eastern Seaboard of US and Eastern Canada) have changed.Continue reading “Corn, Buckwheat, …and two miles from Shediac, on the road to Cocagne.”
If you can’t stand the heat…use the summer kitchen?
I grew up in five different houses… the first my Dad started after my parents married using his army severance pay. The house was modest and very much a house of it’s time, it remained a work in progress until Dad decided to enter ministry. Dad’s decision would take us to a series of largeContinue reading “If you can’t stand the heat…use the summer kitchen?”
Miner’s Wives and Mothers…
There are a number of recipes in My Mother’s Cookbooks which are traditionally associated with mining and mining communities…Welsh cakes, Cornish pasties, Welsh pasties, hand pies, etc. Canadian mining communities which thrived during the early 1900’s and even during the depression, attracted skilled workers and labourers from Europe and beyond. A ready supply, miners fromContinue reading “Miner’s Wives and Mothers…”
Elsie’s ‘Washday’ Pudding
One of the recipes in the My Mother’s Cookbook collection is named “Elsie’s Washday Pudding”. That her sister Elsie had a favourite recipe for wash days while Mum did not, is entirely understandable. Until the Victorian period (1837-1901) the washing of clothing (and bodies) was infrequent and a luxury limited to those who could affordContinue reading “Elsie’s ‘Washday’ Pudding”
My Mother's Cookbooks 