This morning's sub-freezing temperatures and my own recovery from a cold was inspiration enough to make a potato and sausage stew, one that my mom started making when we lived in Kansas over forty years ago (eek!). The recipe was featured in the Kansas City Star and contained the simplest of ingredients that came together … Continue reading The Heart of It
“Which Grandpa is it?” This would seem to be a simple enough question. Through the process of renaming picture files with the names of family members rather than numbers, in hopes of capturing identities lest I forget names, I ran across a picture of a great-great grandfather on my dad’s side of the family. Although … Continue reading Threads
Over the years my role in the kitchen has changed. Starting out at an early age, I was the ever eager assistant in the kitchen, working along side my grandmothers or mom, where I was just as excited to scoop, measure, stir, and wash dishes as I was to sample the end products of our … Continue reading Kitchen Help
During Eric’s college years, I was ever mindful of not wanting to wear out the welcome of No-bake Peanut Butter Bars, as unlikely as that may seem. Knowing that Eric shared a house with four other young men left me fairly confident that they would not go uneaten. In reality, I didn’t want to be … Continue reading Rotation
“What is your fascination with peanut butter!?” was Dave’s response to my reply as to what kind of cookies I had baked. I wouldn’t describe my relationship with peanut butter as a fascination or even an obsession. Allegiance would be more appropriate. Loyalty. Commitment. My relationship with peanut butter is steadfast; it's a shared experience to … Continue reading Allegiance
What’s in a name? For me, my heritage. Erin Christense Lorenz. Erin, Irish; Christense, Norwegian; Lorenz, German. Not represented? Scotch, Danish, English. My paternal grandfather, Paul Lorenz’s parents were first generation German, Gustav Heinrich Lorenz and Emilie Hermina Triesch. Great Grandma Lorenz was a very tiny woman in her old age, with a heavy German … Continue reading Butter and the Family Tree
The two plus hour drive to Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Kent from Yakima left plenty of time for Jen and Eric to repeatedly and very anxiously wonder if Santa would indeed find us for Christmas, away from home as we would soon be, and for me to map out possible diversions for Grandpa if … Continue reading Over the River and Through the Woods
If desserts were movie stars, my mom’s pies, crumbles, and crisps would be up for an Academy Award. She had a supporting cast of characters as well, Snickerdoodles, oatmeal cookies, steamed pudding, sour dough cinnamon bread to name a few. But the biggest contender for the Oscar would be Mom’s Apple Cake. Growing up my … Continue reading Don’t Judge a Book
Moth to the flame. Bee to the blossom. Lighthouse in a storm. The top of Grandma’s refrigerator. The first stop after welcome hugs. Check the top of the refrigerator. Cookie tin? Yes. A quick look inside. Would it be one of my favorites? This ritual was repeated with every visit to my Grandma and Grandpa’s … Continue reading Swedish Farmer
It’s not that anyone would call it being deprived, maybe just lack of life experience? Growing up I didn’t eat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Chef Boyardee, Wonder Bread, or SpaghettiO’s. I don’t regret missing out on Wonder Bread. Watching kids roll slices of Wonder Bread into a dense white glutenous mass only to naw on it … Continue reading Not in a Box
Butter + Benedictions 