Apples & Thyme #2: Mom's Constant Kitchen

My Mom's grounding in good solid cooking came from my grandmother, featured in the first of the Apples & Thyme events (and also in the background of this photo, along with my grandfather). While my grandmother was pretty traditional in her likes and dislikes, my mother was much more adventurous. This post is for my Mom, and for the second Apples & Thyme event, hosted by Vanielje Kitchen and The Passionate Palate.

 

Mom had me cooking as a matter of course right from the start and I loved it. I used to grind walnuts for her while she measured out the rest of the ingredients for her Lemon Nut Bread and by the time I was eight I already knew how to bake and frost a cake. Mom always worked outside the home and as soon as we were old enough to take care of ourselves in the afternoons, I'd often start dinner for her, knowing I had only to pick up the phone if I had questions (I mastered meatloaf very early).

We were not a family who stayed in the same town. When I was ten we moved from California to the east coast and then lived in three different towns and houses after that. Somehow, though, my mother's kitchen never really changed. Loaded with her ever-growing collection of cookbooks and her good cookware, her kitchen, wherever it was, always felt instantly familiar. It's the place I like being the most when I visit her.

It's very hard to choose just one of my mother's recipes to share with you-- there are so many that I love. When I was first thinking about this post I'd narrowed the list down to two of my favorite sweets-- her fabulous Lemon Nut Bread or her Lazy Daisy Oatmeal Cake. But to be honest with you, I'm a little burned out on sweets right now. This month of December has been non-stop baking for one blog event or another, I've already got Mince Pies, Christmas cookies and Banana Cream Pie in the kitchen, with a bread pudding scheduled for next week. I just couldn't face yet another sweet.

My Mom never limited her cooking reportoire to the classic meat, veg and starch, instead mastering Coquilles Saint-Jacques, the use of a Mongolian Hot Pot in the '70s, and the perfect rustic lentil stew with lamb shanks. Of all of the little tips and tricks and recipes I've gotten from her over the years I think the most important has been the abilty to take just a few ingredients and let them speak for themselves, resulting in a mouth-wateringly good meal.

Witness this simple dinner of pork loin roast and potatoes. Not a lot to it, really. You stud the pork loin with slivers of raw garlic and sprinkle it liberally with salt and pepper before you roast it. Within the hour you have wonderful tender garlic-y slices of pork on your plate. Add a little bit of warm applesauce and some sauteed red cabbage and you're in heaven. This is how my Mom always made pork roast, and it's how I always do it too. Why mess with what's already perfect?

Comments

[Manggy]

Why indeed? :) I also have a pork (tender)loin picture just waiting to be posted :) your mom's way sounds excellent, we just have to make our own applesauce here as only Gerber sells it here in the Philippines.

Who's that in the second picture? Izzat Jack? Hee hee, kidding.

[french tart]

oh i love the old electric ranges with the push buttons! we had one of those.

[Adele]

Mmm. Pork loin with potatoes sounds like a very satisfying, wintry meal.

[Jeni]

What a delicious looking - and simple - dinner. That kind of a meal is welcome during this busy month. Great memories you have. Thank you for sharing with us.

[Maryanne Fisher (Mom)]

Ann - I loved this Post. It brings back some fine memories. You must have worked hard to come up with those pictures - Livermore??

[Dad]

I know where the pictures came from. The tribute to your Mom is really nice. But, you've moved way on out there. Congrats.

[Susan from Food Blogga]

Don't you just love old photos like this one? I could get lost for hours looking through them.

[Ann]

Manggy, I can't wait to see your pork roast! And yeah, yeah, I was a bit of a tomboy, what can I say? :-)

frenchtart, I'd forgotten all about those push buttons until I went to upload this photo...

Adele, one of my favs, for sure!

Jeni, thanks for stopping by. I love this event and I was so please when you and Inge went for a second installment.

Mom, no work to it at all... every time Dad adds to the family photo gallery I snatch up the pictures and save them. Now when are you going to tell me the secret to your Flank Steak recipe? I canNOT get it to come out like yours. xxoxx

Dad, a good student is a reflection on her teacher. xxoxx

Susan, so lucky for me that my shutterbug father is slowly scanning all of his old slides. :-)

[Suzanne]

Love the stories and photos from your childhood. Looking at all of your recipes is making my mouth water.

[myfrenchkitchen]

You're right! Love the top photo, I have a soft spot for old photos. I also have "family recipes" that I don't even bother to change or add something decadent or whatever and that's the way I'll pass them on to my daghters. Like you say, they are already perfect! Nice entry!
ronell

[Laurie Constantino]

The pork looks great, but I got stuck on the concept of the perfect lamb shanks and lentils -- now that sounds like my kind of dish. Your mom sounds really great -- being able to make a new kitchen instantly feel like home is a real skill.

[Ann]

Suzanne, always glad to see you when you stop by.

Ronell, I think that's the best thing about the recipes we inherit... someone else has already made all of the refinements. :-)

Laurie, she is great. And I'll dig around for that lamb shanks recipe.

[Mary]

Oh Ann! I remember that pork loin roast! Wonderful!
I love seeing those photos too. Love to you!