Keepin' the old ways alive. My family story.

[mjpmap]

Just a quick background, I was born in southern Virginia, but grew up in Michigan. My Mother was a Virginia raised farm girl, who along with the rest of the family could put a meal on the table that you just couldn't find anywhere else. Last week, we stayed in a circa 1867 house in Bohannan, Virginia for a mini family reunion. One of my goals was for my 12 year old granddaughter MacKenzie to learn the old ways of cooking from her 85 year old Great Grandma (my Mother). The following pics are how that meal and my granddaughter's education progressed. I just stood out of the way and grabbed the occasional pic and enjoyed the fruits of everyone's labor. The first step was how to make Great Grandma's surprise filled cupcakes.

 

[mjpmap]

In the meantime, Grandma (my better half) grabbed grandson Aidan to shuck corn. In Virginia, only Silver Queen qualifies as true sweet corn.

 

[mjpmap]

Grandma then grabbed MacKenzie to teach her to family's guarded custard recipe for home made peach ice cream.

 

[mjpmap]

Great Grandma then gave MacKenzie and I a lesson on the proper cuttin' and cleanin' a chicken. I was a bit speechless when she taught me how to debone a chicken breast bare handed and WITHOUT a knife.

 

[mjpmap]

At this point, Great Grandma took MacKenzie really under wing and showed her the proper way to flour, season, and fry the chicken. The old school way: flour, salt & pepper in a paper grocery sack. Chicken in, shake it up, and fry it in shallow oil.

 

[mjpmap]

In the meantime, Grandma had Aidan out on the porch churning the ice cream. I know, this is supposed to be the old way, but it was just to darned hot to use a hand crank.

 

[mjpmap]

Now Great Grandma said this girl shouldn't be expected to stand here fryin' chicken for two hours, so I better be ready to help. MacKenzie wouldn't have any part of that. By this point, Great Grandma sat in a chair in the middle of the kitchen. I overheard Mack ask Great Grandma when to turn the chicken. Her answer was perfect. "Use your own judgement".

 

[mjpmap]

Can't have a piece of chicken without a good biscuit! In this case, Great Grandma decided on teaching buttermilk biscuits. "Make sure to make a thumbprint in the middle so they rise up level"

 

[mjpmap]

So proud of my Granddaughter. By the end of this, she was working the stove with not only the fried chicken, but mashed potatoes, butter beans with ham seasoning, corn with bacon seasoning, and after the fry, a bit of chicken gravy.

 

[Bigr314]

Great post. Nothing like a big family meal. Those memories will last a lifetime.

 

[mjpmap]

Unfortunately, before I could get a good pic of the table, the family had dug in and enjoyed the labor of the day. After dinner & ice cream, we all retired to the porch. We sat and talked as the East River rolled into Mobjack bay while the sun slowly disappeared. Maybe this is the money shot after all. Thanks all for looking.

 

[Evil-g]

What a fantastic post!!!

 

[THoey1963]

Very nice...

 

[Norm]

Thank you for sharing with us, a great post.

 

[JDM46]

[QUOTE=mjpmap; . After dinner & ice cream, we all retired to the porch. We sat and talked as the East River rolled into Mobjack bay while the sun slowly disappeared. Maybe this is the money shot after all.

I would agree. Great post.

 

[Stingerhook]

Thanks for the great post and you have a fine family.

 

[BillN]

Great post and thanks for sharing your family with us. Since this is a safe secure site please share the family's guarded custard recipe for home made peach ice cream with your brothers and sisters in smoke. :wink:

 

[Burnt to a T]

Great story.

I did something this year as well.

My kids didn't get the luxury to spend time with Great Grandparents both of their Grandpa's died when they where very young as well. I was only 29 when my Dad passed away my boys 4, and 2. This year marked the 20th year of his passing.

He loved to fish among other things so I started buying vintage fishing items thinking I could pass something down so they can do it as well when the time comes. Everything was bought made in the USA from as early as 1950's Most from the 60s, and 70's. They loved it, and we will do it every year from here on out. These are the things life are truly about.

 

[mjpmap]

Great post and thanks for sharing your family with us. Since this is a safe secure site please share the family's guarded custard recipe for home made peach ice cream with your brothers and sisters in smoke. :wink:

Would you believe, it's so guarded, that I don't have a clue how to make it?:doh:

 

[Ribeye Republic]

Great post. My girls Great Grandma's are gone now but they get plenty of exposure to my mom and her great skills in the kitchen.