"They had a cheery supper that night in spite of simple fare. The mother was resurrecting all her old recipes, plain wholesome food, cheaply bought and deriving its savory taste and smell from the old deftness in seasoning, the trick of long cooking, and careful preparation . . . Bean soup made with tomatoes, potatoes, and celery tops. . . brown bread, baked apples and cream, even bread pudding with a dash of chocolate to make it tasty, hash . . . It all seemed so good and they were so hungry from their work."
--Grace Livingston Hill, The Patch of Blue
There is nothing like "mom's cooking," is there? When I "discovered" bean soup, I shared it with my Depression-raised parents, and you would have thought it was filet mignon. That "simple fare" says HOME like nothing "fancy" can.
ReplyDeleteLike the scene in Re-Creations (I think) where the daughter makes the mother's standard Company Meal of stewed chicken on biscuits, etc. etc. and the Father is so impressed. It said Home to him.
Love the passages you share!
--Barbara
Baked apples, yum. I've been making Nigella Lawson's baked apples for breakfast, lunch and dinner... really any chance I get.
ReplyDeleteI've been missing these descriptions! Thanks for posting this. I need to get more of her books from the library.
ReplyDeleteLove Grace Livingston Hill books! Do you remember the one where a momma taught her daughter at home, tucked away in the middle of nowhere, by using only the Bible? She taught grammar, math, history... all from the Bible! So neat! The simple life has more to it than meets the eye, right?
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