i learned to cook from mom and grandma just by being in the kitchen and sometimes helping. they didnt measure either. And i never measure, its why i dont bake. I think i can make the things they did, and my sister thinks some of it i do even better. i also have newer recipes that i make. I would say im a pretty good homestyle cook. not into fancy stuff. Now my sister is the baker and she sometimes even makes fancy things shes great at it.

 

I will never forget the look on my Mom's face when my brother and sister told her she should let me make the spaghetti sauce because they liked mine better (he is 7 1/2 years younger than men and she is 6 1/2 years younger than him)!  It's the only thing that any of our family has ever said tasted better when I make it than when Mom makes it.  We both use Ragu nowadays  .

 

 

I come from a long ling of simple basic cooks.  I really don't like following recipes too closely, so I try to stick with stuff I know will work.  Even when I do use a recipe, I wind up changing something - adding something or leaving out some ingredient we don't care for - to make it more "my own".  I used to be a pretty decent cook, but I just don't do very much of it any more, so I don't know if I still am or not.

 

 

My sister can bake anything.  She does not cook other than baking (the only meal she makes is lasagna).  She has a Kitchen Aid mixer (so does Mom), and about 100 cookbooks, mostly cookies and other desserts; and she has at least 500 cookie cutters, she collects them.

 

We make cookies every year in December to give as gifts to friends, co-workers and neighbors.  We usually make 25-30 kinds of cookies and 8-10 kinds of candy.  Sis mixes all the cookies, and we have had many people ask us where we bought our cookies, some of them are very fancy - like you see in magazines.  Mom and I get to do some of the baking, and I do most of the cleanup.  We take about 4 days every year to bake, we call it "cookie days"...and for some strange reason, neither of us ever has any trouble getting time off work to do this  .

pache thats interesting, because one of the things i make better than my mom did is spaghetti sauce. I wonder if its really better or if our expectations for homemade sauce taste has changed.

 

My sister also has the kitchen aid mixer, but of course she has moved up to the professional size one. She was so excited when she bought it. its giant and can do all sorts of cool things, i dont even own a mixer.

 

my sister does the cookie thing too. i helped one year, but she understands that i hate  doing it, so she just does it over a bit of time, and i dont have to help. cookies and all the nut breads too. she makes absolutely the best banana bread ever. And so many kinds of cookies. my favorite of the cookies are the macaroons, which are more like candy, all they contain is choc chips, coconut, sweetened condensed milk and a few drops of almond oil. She always makes a bunch of these and gives them to me to take home. Just like at thanksgiving she makes the best pumpkin pie and always make a whole one for me to take home. shes a great sister.

 

Do you think she would part with the recipe?  I'm sure my sister would love to have it.

 

If I was doing this on my own, I would hate it, too.  But, the three of us have the MOST fun...we laugh, giggle, and carry on like little girls.  We get so tired we are punchy.  But, even though we start around 7 AM and don't wind up until after 7 PM each day we do this, we take breaks and go out to eat lunch.  Sometimes we stop and go to the store for something we forgot.  Last year, for the first time, we finished everything in three days and got to rest on Sunday!  My sister has the process down to a science.  She knows what needs to get mixed up first (usually the refrigerated ones) so Mom and I can start baking while she continues to mix and store.  We have a ball.  I wouldn't take anything for those experiences with them.

pache i have the macaroon recipe and wil pull it out and post it. they are the best of the best and so decandent.

 

I wish i could say i was as good natured as you on baking days my sis and i are great friends but baking day makes me crabby and piissy. LOL

Thanks, Blue!  We LOVE macaroons!  We go to Fuddrucker's Hamburgers (the chain started here, but I think it's all over the States now) sometimes when we go to the cemetery at Ft Sam Houston, where my Dad is buried (long story...it's close and it was one of his favorite places to eat).  They have the most delicious macaroons, they have plain and with chocolate drizzled across the tops.  And, a couple of years ago, someone in the bakery made a mistake and put in chopped pecans!  They were such a success, that people started asking for them that way, and they now put pecans in all the time!  They are wonderful. 

Back to meatloaf....I use my leftovers the next day or so to make hamburger stroganoff by just breaking it up and adding to 2 cans of Campbells Golden Mushroom Soup (only add 1 can of water so it stays thick).  Heat until bubbly then add sour cream to taste....at least 1 smaller container - we like a little more than that.  Meanwhile, you've boiled up some wide egg noodles and drained them.....pour meat mixture over them and enjoy with your favorite vegies.

This sounds like something my hubby would love Beth because he is a big mushroom eater and he likes egg noodles.  He likes mushrooms on about anything he can get by putting them on.  I've never been a big eater of mushrooms but think I will make this and see how he likes it but it sure sounds like something he would like.

If there IS any leftover meatloaf (Mom usually makes two - a larger one for that dinner and a smaller one for my brother to take home to eat off for a couple of days)...I get a meatloaf sandwich the next day for lunch!

I make pretty much the standard meatloaf (I use seasoned bread crumbs for the binder, an egg and plenty of ketchup) and top it with 4 or 5 strips of bacon, then pepper those pretty well and pop it in the oven. I either roast potatoes along side it or make mashed potatoes, like my Mom used to, except I put sour cream in them instead of milk.