Some Things Only a Mom Can Do!

I don't know about ya'll but there are certain meals that I remember from my childhood that just thinking about makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! Nothing gourmet... nothing fancy... nothing really special at all. In fact, it's their simplicity and the memories they evoke that are comforting.

I remember fondly cream of tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches on cold snowy days. Mom would bundle us up like abominable snow men (so we couldn't move our arms) and send us out into the yard to play in the snow. No matter how hard she tried to bundled us up, it wasn't long before we were wet and cold and running inside to warm up. Mom peeled off our wet clothes and started warming/drying them. It's amazing how quickly we would forget how miserable we were being cold and wet, and we would start begging to head back outside! Once lunchtime rolled around, I knew that a warm bowl of Campbell's cream of tomato soup (made with milk - not water) and a gooey grilled cheese sandwich would be waiting. Of all the comfort food that I remember from my childhood, cream of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich is the only meal I continue to make for myself. Usually on cold, rainy days!

For breakfast on cold days, I remember a bowl of cream of wheat and cinnamon toast. The first thing I did was tip my toast over my bowl of cream of wheat so that the cinnamon sugar coated the top of the warm cereal. Yum! I can't remember the last time I had a bowl of cream of wheat?

Here's one that will "date" me...

Mom's tuna noodle casserole! I don't like anyone's tuna noodle casserole. Only my moms! It has to be made with a package of cooked egg noodles, a drained can of tuna, a can of cream of mushroom soup, an almost full can of milk, and then a layer of cheddar cheese on top before it goes into the oven. This casserole has to be served with blueberry muffins (made from the box that has the little can of blueberries inside) and peach or pear halves with grated cheddar cheese and a little dollop of mayo. I know... sounds disgusting but it's yummy if you grew up with it. Just the sound of this meal makes my mouth water and yet I have NEVER made it for myself. However, during a visit from my mom a year or two ago, she made this for me for my birthday dinner! Mmmmm-mmmmm-good!

Isn't it funny how many memories are associated with food? I remember certain specialties that each of my grandmothers made when we visited. I remember my NaNa's chicken and dumplings (I still can't make this favorite dish as good as she did), and my Nanny's Escarole soup (I have mastered this one).

I'm very sad to admit that Nick won't have any memories of favorite meals that will make him feel all warm and fuzzy inside :(

If you ask him what his favorite meal is, he'll say pepperoni pizza or steak. Neither one of these is exactly a "made with love by mom" specialty. There won't be any special recipes for me to pass on to his wife one day. He won't come home from college on the weekends requesting a warm casserole or "Mom's Famous ______ (fill in the blank)." How sad is this?

I'm suddenly craving a tuna noodle casserole! I'm depressed and I need a little bit of comforting!

Blessings,
LeAnn

P.S. I would love to hear about your favorite food memories!