Dinner at Grandma's

I'm sure when most of us think of dinner at Grandma's house we think of a specific meal, delicious home cooking that only Grandma can reproduce and the company of our family. It has always amazed me how nothing quite tastes the same as Grandma's no matter how many times we try to reproduce the out come it is never the same. Maybe it's the over 50 years my Grandmother has been cooking delicious meals, maybe it's the company of those we love, or maybe (what i believe to be the most likely) it is a secret Grandma spice that is only available to grandmothers around the world. Which ever it is I know one thing, there is only one place I can find a delicious blend of heart, soul, and food.

I know most of us can think of our favorite "Grandma made" food and mine has to be my Grandmother's home made Chinese food. While my Grandma is full breed, 100% american through and through, she has a recipe for 3 simple chinese dishes that she started making for her family get togethers 40 years ago. While the family has grown older and changed going from her own sisters and cousins to now her children their sisters and children and now my grandmother's great grandchildren the recipes have remained the same.

My Grandmother's chinese food consists of delicious chop suey, sweet and sour chicken, and a baked pork dish that I dream about. Usually we get together once a year for this feast of sorts and we all eat until there is no more room and we feel as though we will never be able to eat agian. It never fails we end up bringing up old stories of Christmas' past and we all end up laughing so hard we are crying. We end up telling new news, sharing details of our day to day lives and we always enjoy sitting around an old wooden table and seeing those we haven't seen sometimes since months past.
The old wooden table has been around well since before I was born and I remember as a small child it used to fit us all if we pulled up an extra chair. Now that 1 table has grown into 2 tables that we sit at arm to arm talking and laughing and remembering old times.


In the days following these meals remember the wonderful smells, tastes, and company, one thought always comes to my mind. It amazes me what food can do. Food can bring families together and for even just an hour we can all sit around a table (or 2) together and laugh and remember and enjoy. Food has a power that few other forces have to unite us, to bring peace to our busy lives, and to give us if only for a moment a glimpse into the past to remember those who are still with us and those who have gone. So I suppose this post has turned into an ode to food and the joy it brings me.

Happy cooking