Apples & Thyme: The Round Up

I was honored when I was asked to guest host the Apples & Thyme. It is a special event, as it’s a a celebration of time spent in the kitchen with our mothers and grandmothers. I love my mother so, and worry about her each day. She’s grown, I know, but I still worry. Role reversal…an inevitable turn of events as we get older.

Since tomorrow’s Easter, I’ve decided to start off the round up with a picture taken by my brother. Mom makes silk eggs Easter and they are very cool! She and my oldest niece began a gram/granddaughter tradition by making these beauties last year. I haven’t tried the yet, but maybe one day!! Silk ties and eggs? Who knew!? Then again, she was the one to visit my classroom during my student teaching in Dorchester, MA. She made wonderful crafts with my class during my winter unit – winter celebrations around the world. These memories, along with all the others from when I was young is indisputable evidence that she’s creativity central in our family.


Now - the round up. Thanks to all who participated. If I missed someone, let me know. I found a couple in my spam folder and fear I deleted emails inadvertently. Thanks! Let's begin with Jeni.

Jeni, our co-creator, brings us Corn Bread, a recipe found, a recipe originated from Nanna. The card above was found as Jeni and her sister looked through their mom's recipes after her passing. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been looking though the binder's, but what comfort in being able to carry-on the memories and traditions of the women in her family!

Inge (Vanielje Kitchen), our other co-creator, makes our mouth water with her Good Friday Seafood Saffron Soup. She explains that this soup is

quick and easy to prepare, light and delicious after a day’s feasting, yet full of warm sunshine and the promise of summer, and special enough to take pride of place as an Easter meal.

She also gives us a peek into her childhood with her mom, "Mrs Hotcrossby", Easter travels a full 360◦ with these Hot Cross Buns!

Grace (A Southern Grace), evoked memories of SNL. Her SNL memories tie into her creating nicknames for her mom - terms of affection, really. And, it was from her mom that she received bread starter that she has been feeding – “eb”. Her lovely Cinnamon Swirl Bread is evidence of what a wonderful relationship mom/daughter’s can have.

Alexandra (Addicted Sweet Tooth) baked with Oma and bring us lovely Butterkuchen. She outlines delightful communication between her and her Oma. Although she isn’t sure how often they grandmother and granddaughter baked this one together, but this Butter-Sugar-Almond cake look like a wonderful generator of love, memories, and good food.

Rokh (Tham Jiak) brings us a charming tribute to her Lai Ma, with whom she was with until she was 4. What hit me (the educator who interacts with kids constantly) was when she wrote

I would say it had been the shaping years of my life, trust me we children do absorb everything like sponge during the first 5 years of our lives from family and people surrounding us. So environment counts and lucky for me, it was a great one.

Check out the whole touching post and the Young Papaya Pickle recipe.

Fellow Atlantan, Tami (Running with Tweezers) brings us sausage and broccoli pasta along with a touching tribute to her mom. This one is a must read, because my synopsis could never do Tami’s post and memories justice.

If you’re a regular reader of food blogs, then you must know Susan (FoodBlogga). She comes to this month’s round up with Pizza Chena. A wonderful tribute to her Nan, we enjoy more of Susan’s lovely prose and a Neapolitan stuffed pie.

Tamara (Rocky Mountain Writer) comes to Apples & Thyme with the Easter Bunny! She, along with her family, recreate childhood memories during the holidays. Be sure to check it out…along with her diagrams!

How cute is Andrea's (Andrea's Recipes) Bunny Cake? She offers a picture of a 1968 Parade magazine article her mom used to create the cake. What a flood of memories for all of us whose mom's made recipes from its pages! I love the tape...a true sign of a well loved, often used recipe.

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Lastly, I posted about mom's zucchini & sauce, her linguine & clam sauce, and my gram's sweet potato. All quick and easy meals that hold fond memories for me of my my childhood.


This concludes this month's Apples & Thyme. Thanks to all who participated. Reading stories of others memories is so, so special. Be sure to keep sharing the times spent in the kitchen with the special women in our lives. The deadline is each month, by the 20th. I am not sure is there is another guest host next month, so to be safe, email your posts to the girls = passionatepalate(AT)gmail(DOT)com or africanvanielje(AT)vanielje(DOT)com.