Today is my Grandma Stevens’ birthday. My sister-in-law reached out a few days ago to ask what some of Grandma’s favorite foods were so she could serve some of them to her family in honor of Grandma today. What a great way to pass on food traditions to the next generation!
My Mom, my sisters, and I had fun remembering all the foods we used to eat at Grandma’s. We don’t remember if these were HER favorites, but they are things that were standard in her kitchen during our growing-up years.
These food traditions are an important part of our family’s history. My Mom remembers macaroni and tomato juice as a staple when she was growing up. It was a budget-friendly meal, and she and her siblings would heap their plates and eat enough to get full. She doesn’t know if Grandma liked the taste better or the price, but to this day, macaroni and tomato juice is one of Mom’s comfort foods.
I remember helping Grandpa or my Dad put the leaves in the kitchen table at Grandma’s house so our entire family could gather around for Sunday dinner. Chicken noodle soup, made with Grandpa’s homemade noodles and served over mashed potatoes, and carrot jello topped with Miracle Whip were often served at these meals.
Sleepovers at Grandma’s would culminate in a breakfast of waffles made with Bisquick baking mix. Grandpa loved Karo syrup on his waffles. The rest of us would generally choose maple syrup. Grandpa also loved Shredded Wheat, and I remember Grape Nuts being another staple at their breakfast table. On cold mornings, Grandpa and Grandma would have a steaming mug of Postum with their breakfast.
Grandma always served ice cream cones dotted with M&M’s when we went to visit. She loved candy bars, and we nicknamed the regular-size bars “Mama’s.” The fun-size bars were “Babies,” and the miniatures were “Preemies.” We loved it when Grandma popped an ice cream bucket full of popcorn for us to enjoy while watching re-runs of “The Brady Bunch” or “I Dream of Jeannie.”
In later years, Grandma developed an affinity for Cherry Pepsi. My Mom did Grandma’s grocery shopping, and her list often consisted almost exclusively of Cherry Pepsi, bananas, ice cream, and chocolate bars. Grandma had Meals on Wheels delivered for her afternoon meal, but would often simply eat a banana for breakfast.
More than the food that was served at Grandma’s house, the memories associated with these foods are what we treasure. I’m so excited my sister-in-law is sharing these foods and memories with her young children today.
What food traditions and associated memories do you have in your family? How are you sharing them with the next generation?
