Daily Archives: January 24, 2009

Grandmothers

I understand one of my grandmothers used to sing to me, “Bye Bye Blackbird.”  So I can pack up all my cares and woes and say that both of my grandmothers died before I was a year old.

My mother’s mother didn’t lend us too much in the way of culinary lore.  I think all the meat she cooked was grey.  My father’s mother, on the other hand, taught my Mom how to cook good German food.

Here I go, singing low, many years later.  Before I married my husband his grandmother, the infamous Nanny, agreed to be mine as well.  We have such good talks and it’s always great to have a one-on-one visit with her.  Of course she interviewed me first, in 2002, and told me what she wanted her grandson to do.  Of course he didn’t do it.  But no-one stays with a company to get a gold watch these days!

Bye bye Blackbird.  Mom is gone, ten years younger than Nanny.  It took me a while to get to know my brother-in-law but now he actually calls me “Sis.”

Whatever happens on Jim’s interviews this weekend, Texas has become a home for me.  I never thought it would be, or wanted it to be.  The weather stinks six months of the year (100 degrees and humid) but we have family here.

Where somebody waits for me, sugar’s sweet, so is he, bye, bye blackbird.  My love will be home tonight and we’ll talk about our options.  Blackbird, bye bye.  Dee

Hi Jen

I have it from good authority (your mother, who we saw off on her great trip from LA) that you read this blog from time to time.  I was wondering if you have any recipes or recipe ideas from all the far-flung countries you’ve traveled to or lived in.

Jen speaks many languages and one we shared in our apartamento is called Averna, but that was just to get through the CNN Worldwide videos of the Clinton/Lewinsky hearings.

Seriously, she speaks fluent Russian and by now probably Japanese and other languages.  Is there anything you can recommend for us here in the States?  Is there anything we’ve taken over that we’re doing badly?  Any response from my step-sister would be welcome, at dee@cookingwithdee.net.  That’s private.  If you want public, respond to the blog directly.  xoxo

Best to your Jim.  Look forward to seeing you soon.  Your Mom looks great and is happy to be traveling again.  Cheers!  Dee

Why?

Six years of marriage.  We met October 3, 2001, right after 9/11 and I was stuck in Europe, unable to get home.  So it’s more like 7.5 years.

Why?  He interests me with his musings and scientific pursuits.  Yes, sometimes we have the same conversations over and over again on long trips, like how he wants to be a pilot and fly to see his folks, or what the emissions from the nearest plant contain.

He interests me with conversations on topical subjects, like the inauguration and economic affairs.  He is so darned smart that the smartest girl in school (I never fulfilled that promise test-wise or grade-wise but did well) yearns to keep up with him.  It’s my job to keep him informed, engaged, and clean.  On the eve of our sixth wedding anniversary I pledge to keep to the same as well as keeping the marriage vows that Captain A.J. Hodder (USN, Ret.) swore us to uphold.  We love you and Joan and family, always!

We are still in love, are the best of friends, have dear friends and family and a dog with whom we share our lives.  I thank you, dear readers and contributors, for being in my life and enhancing my opportunity to share recipes and cooking ideas with you.

Every day my life is a challenge. I awaken and anything could happen and I have to be ready for it.  No, younger folks are on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, I’m talking about life in an economic morass.  As long as we’re together, we can deal with anything thrown our way.  Yes I’m the feminist turned nurturer.  What else is new? Hope your forecast is sunny, Dee

We’re Global

I never thought about it and never knew but I just hit on a link about mincemeat that http://translate.google.de/translate?hl=de&sl=en&u=http://blog.cookingwithdee.net/2008/12/15/mincemeat/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=9&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmincemeat%2Btarts%26start%3D70%26hl%3Dde%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_DEDE253%26sa%3DN

is my blog in German!  Kochen mit Dee!  I was listening to movie recommendations from Bill, Joe et al and hear Slumdog Millionaire and Defiance are the main contenders, I’m taking everything and in two minutes will sleep on it.  Happy cooking, Dee