How did your family "eat" when you were growing up? "Home-cooking" for me!
By tinamwhite
@tinamwhite (3252)
United States
April 25, 2007 9:12pm CST
Like so many others in today's world...I grew up in a single parent household...my mother worked every day usually long hours....we lived in rural Iowa and were lucky enough to be part of a large family....every year we all planted a huge garden at Grandma and Grandpa's house...we planted a seperate large potatoe patch....enough vegetables were grown for all the ones who participated....
They would go together, buy 250 chicks, divide the cost of feed and oh my, the weekends. we spent during "butchering time"....all day long..plucking and washing and cutting; then the next whole day...washing and wrapping for the freezer. All freezers were filled thoughout the winter, with fresh home raised chickens.
They would buy 3-4 hogs; divide feed bills, take them to the butcher shop when they were of size; and the meat was divided throughout the family. We had fresh pork as well.
Grandma and Grandpa also raised cows.....calves were fed, butchered and split amongst the family.
Rabbits were also raised....they were butchered in early fall and placed in the freezer.
We always canned and froze vegetables; dried onions and stored potatoes in a cool dry place throughout the winter months..
I guess we all worked hard...but we always ate great....My Grandmother is one of the best cooks I know and since Mom had to work so much .....I learned alot of my cooking abilities from Grandma; don't misunderstand, my mother is a heck of a cook as well.
I always raised my children on home cooking; of course, we ate out once in a while, but it was occassional at best. I continue to cook like that now.
We moved to rural Arkansas about 3 years ago...we have bought a small farm and I am getting to do these things again for and with our 4 yr. old son and our grandchildren....
It made me wonder how it went for others....
6 people like this
22 responses
@66jerseygirl (3877)
• United States
26 Apr 07
My dad had a farmer for a friend so every year we would load up on veggies and fruits then we would can like crazy.My mom always believed in home cooking.Once in awhile she would buy something like rice a roni or hamburger helper but most of the time it was good old fashioned home cooking.Have a good one Tina
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I know that many families depend on friends and "fresh fruit and vegetable stands" for their produce and I also think it is fresher than what we can buy at the local grocery store.
I hope that you are feeling better. As always, my friend you are in my thoughts and prayers...take care of yourself.
1 person likes this
@66jerseygirl (3877)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Sometimes if the organic fruits andveggies are on sale,I will buy some of them.Thanks ,Tina. I thik if we can get back home ,I will feel a lot better
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Sweetie, I think you will also feel better once you get home.....
You know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, daily, my friend.
Wishing you wings of flight.....have a blessed day!
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
30 Apr 07
Here in the UK, mum always had her vegetable garden which she grew loads of different vegetables, as a child I used to go down to explore and it fascinated me to be able to pick, name and eat the different vegetables which is a great learning lesson for a child, there is something truly wonderful about growing, picking and eating fresh vegetables that you have grown yourself. It also helped financially too and my grandma used to buy a little meat and would make a stew with all the home-grown vegetables or a soup economically.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
1 May 07
Oh yes, my grandmother made one of the best homemade vegatable soups.....now I can make it....it is great!!
Using only the vegetables from our garden...I usually can several quarts every summer.
Thanks so much for sharing with me.
@avonrep1 (1862)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I was in the first grade when my sister started cooking most of our houses dinners. My mother had brain surgery. So my sister had no other choice. Every Wed. was ham sandwhich night. Once a month instead of sandwhiches we would order pizza.
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
27 Apr 07
Avonrep, thank you for sharing, my friend.....I am sorry about your mother....I am sure that things were difficult after that....but it sounds like your family pulled together to make sure things were done.
My mother had an aneursym when my brother was 11, she has had to live with someone every since...she ha lived with me for several years now....so I can kind of understand....
Warmest wishes to you, my friend.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
27 Apr 07
Growing up my family cooked at home alot too- We ate out very rarely-- Didn't have the extra cash to do it- We did order pizza once a week. We didn't raise our own livestock and butcher it though!
Now we cook at home also- We eat out more than I did growing up- But I feel that cooking at home is much more healthy and is better bonding time! My daughter loves to help cook so we do it together! I cooked with my mom when I was younger too. My daughter is 10.
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
27 Apr 07
KrisNY, I know that you and your daughter are creating memories for a lifetime.....she will always remember the days she gets to share with you over the stove.
I agree, modern convenience makes eating out an easy way to go sometimes.....LOL I think eating out occassionally is seen as a "treat" to our children.
Thanks so much for participating in my discussion. I appreciate you sharing with me. Have a blessed day!
@gwenmari1029 (1481)
• Philippines
27 Apr 07
we have home-cooked meals too! my mother is a housewife so we all depended on her. we had maids when we were younger but my mother does the cooking for the family. we always have home cooked meals especially when we were younger. my parents cannot bring us all to the restaurant because it will be difficult for my mom to assist all her 5 children. it will be tedious and more hard-work for her. so we just order additional foods outside and eat at home.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
27 Apr 07
How nice maids...wonder what that is like???? Iam glad that your mother cooked for you when you were young...I am sure that is a good memory for you.
Yes, taking 5 children to a restaurant would be difficult!
I can completely understand that point...
I appreciate you sharing with me. Have a blessed day!
@Suzika101 (69)
• United States
27 Apr 07
Lots of home cooking and baked goods, unfortunately. I crave all Mom's favorite sweets when I need comfort food. I love cooking too and baking fresh bread. I am lucky that my guy is also a good cook so we have to practice some restraint. My mother got a lot of surplus food from the government. I am the oldest of six girls. We always had butter and cheese and peanut butter as staples. I probably need roto-rooter for my arteries. LOL My mom did some canning and preserving. I actually do more than she did now.
I love having my own tomatoe sauce all winter and homemade jams. We make jam together and I have a little gooseberry bush that makes awesome jelly. Ever have gooseberry or elderberry? You don't know what you're missing.
My mom was also known to shoot a rabbit out the kitchen window with a 22 and skin it and cook it for dinner. She was a real pioneer woman. She could pluck a chicken. Not me, I want the gadgets and I don't want to look an animal in the eye and then eat it!! I do think seeing the inside of a rabbit did make me interested in Biology though. I blame mom for me being a science teacher.
She was a remarkable woman and I miss her dearly. BTW smoking killed her at 63 all you who are addicted to nicotine..... Hopefully, I am a worthy legacy to her.
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
27 Apr 07
Guilty as charged...I am a smoker....I admit it....but we all must have our faults.....I am sorry to hear about your mother...she sounds like a wonderful woman...and I am sure that you miss her badly.
I am glad that your husband cooks,as well, too few men cook in my opinion.
I ha eaten many gooseberries in my childhood...and you are right about them being very good.....although I hav not eaten any in years....I am jealous....I want a gooseberry bush!!! LOL They do indeed make awesome jam!
I enjoy making fresh bread, as well, and I make it regularly.....it is the best warm from the oven with a bit of butter or margarine......I know what I will be doing tomorrow because I have not made any bread in 2 days and now I would really love a piece!!!!
I found your inference to your mother causing you to become a science teacher.....I had to laugh!! I would say that the world has benefitted greatly then....
Best wishes, my friend.
@texasclassygal (5305)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I was the last one born out of 5 children so by the time I was ready to eat with the family the family had already moved out and my mother was tired of cooking so I had alot of frozen dinner or food that was overcooked. Not that it was my Mother's fault, she worked all day and coming from a single family home it was only her to tend to me so she was tired and often times we would have sandwiches or leftover or frozen dinners.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
My husband and I both have younger siblings that are 14-16 years younger.....my mother had an aneurysm when he was 11....but she tried to continue to cook for them until thattime......my mother-in-law also worked, my father-in-law was gone alot of evenings because of his position at work.......so my brother-in-law ended up eating alot of frozen foods, and take out because they left him money and as he got older, he worked.....
My oldest child will be 30 in a few months,,,,my youngest will be 5 in 2 weeks......although, I work part-time, I still cook at least 6 times a week...it is important to me that my youngest child not grow up without the advantages that the older ones had.
I can understand that if it had just been me and my daughter, and I worked; she went to school and possibly worked, as well.....I could easily see us taking a more leisurely interest in what and when we ate.
Thanks for sharing with me, Texasclassygal. Have a blessed day!
@brimia (6581)
• United States
26 Apr 07
We always had homemade food. My parents grew up on farms. I grew up in the suburbs but my dad has always had a huge garden and fruit trees. My mom canned and froze the fruits and vegetables and made delicious meals every night...often Italian. We went out to eat too but only occasionally.
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Sounds like you got the benefits of "both worlds". Thank you so much for sharing with me. Do you continue to have a garden?? Do you can fruits and vegetables?
By the way, I love Italian food---home canned tomatoes are a wonderful beginning to a great spaghetti sauce...ummmmm
Take care and have a blessed day!
@MagdalenaM (681)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I had to laugh reading your writing as it did resemble in parts my own childhood...
My grandmom too had a huge house with huge garden and many animals in the household. We did not live with her but would spend all holidays there - even tho I never took part at feeding or bringing up the animals, I did do a bit of gardening and of course ate loads of fresh food. My mother, who brought us up by herself would cook every day in order to ensure that we don't have main meals out of cans and would always lay out the table to eat.
As a result of that, I love cooking and usually make dishes from scratch which usually turn out to be a lot better than those done out of frozen stuff. Also, my friend, I think the fact that we were brought up like that makes us appreciate nature a lot more and enjoy cooking something that I don't find it to be a common hobby today.
Have a great day!
Magdalena
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
For me too, my friend, there was no place like "Grandma's " when I was growing up and I would hav ebeen content to hav stayed.....my mother also cooked but that slowed down considerably as I learned to cook.LOL
I do still cook primarily from scratch as it really does taste better....and I feel that it is important for me to feed my family healthy while passing on the skills of cooking to my children and grandchildren.
I do see less and less home cooking....with all of the modern "fast foods" and "frozen or instant foods"...I fear that if we are not careful....it will be a thing of the past as we know it....I fear that would be tramatic for society as a whole......so many aspects of our lives are affected by the simple art of growing, preserving, and cooking fresh foods.
I do have a great appreciation for all of nature!
Best wishes, my friend. Have a blessed day!
@mememama (3076)
• United States
27 Apr 07
My mother stayed at home until we were in grade school, after that she went to college full time while working a part time job. My father came home at a decent hour, but that man can't figure out how to preheat an oven. If my mom was home, she doesn't cook well at all, so we ate a lot of frozen food. But I got sick of that, so as soon as I could reach the stove, I taught myself how to cook. My family was really grateful for that!
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
27 Apr 07
Mememama, You sound like a very resourceful person. I am sure that your family appreciated you teaching yourself to cook. I am sure that you never regretted it either...
Thanks for sharing with me......have a blessed day!
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
26 Apr 07
That sound alot like my childhood. Change rural Iowa to rural Michigan. I did have a 2 parent family though. We all lived on different parts of the family farm. All my aunts and Uncles built houses on the farm when they married,except my one Aunt who married a city boy. They moved into town and bought a bar.(scandalous)I loved working in the garden and feeding the animals. My favorite time of year was baling time. I loved riding the tractor with my grandpa. Then stacking the hay bales in the truck and unloading them into the barn.When the day is done your so hot sticky and tired you just jump into the cold creek and let the water wash over you. We ued to eat out every friday night though. My dad loved friday night fish frys. We would go to dinner then go grocery shopping for the week. When I was married we built our house on the same farm where the potato field use to be. My cousin lives in the homstead house. My mom still lives on the farm where she has been since she was 4 years old,she is 76 now. I have cousins living next door still. I love having a close knit family.
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Thanks for sharing with me...your memory of hay-baling times is shared by me as well, Grandpa taught me how to stand onthe trailer and stack the hay....I am short and throwing bales up onto the truck/trailer was especially difficult for me whe I was young....he also taught me to drive the truck and tractor as I got alittle older (11).
I love the "country life" and although, I have lived in the city.....I hated it and could not wait to be able to get our own little farm....something about "reaping the fruits of our laboor" makes our lives very self-fulfilling. Michigan and Iowa have alot of commonalities...I never did like the "cold" very well...think that is why I ended up in rural Arkansas...we have four seasons but winters are very mild..I think a total of less that 8" of snow here, where I live for the entire winter this past winter.
Take care and have a blessed day!
@angelblush (75)
• Philippines
27 Apr 07
It was always home-cooked meals for us here at home. Home cooked meals are much more better... and healthier... since it is fresh and all that. It is also much more tastier. :)
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I completely agree with you, Angelblush. Thanks for sharing with me. Have a blessed day!
@coconutpatty (834)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Growing up I had both parents present. Both worked but in the winters my dad was laid off, he took it as a seasonal lay off since he didn't want to be in the snow working. Both of my parents are great cooks and we always hade homemade meals. I sometimes liked going to friend's houses to have something more generic (for lack of a better word). I liked having soup and sandwiches for dinner or hot dogs and mac and cheese. My mom made lots of roasts and such. And while it was all really good it was nice to have meals like hot dogs. We did have hot dogs but it wasn't all the time.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I understand what you are saying, Coconutpatty, when I grew up---I ran to the city; swearing off the lifestyle that I was raised but as I became a parent....my ideals of quality of life changed dramatically....I found that these were indeed the things that I wanted for my children....
I do not reqret seeing life from a different prospective though, as it made me appreciate my raising....plus I already had the knowledge from past experience to being raising my children the same way as I was raised.
Thanks so much for sharing with me. Have a blessed day!
@GoofInTexas (3)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I was raised in a 2 parent house, with my dad being gone due to work for weeks or months at a time. My mom was most a sahm. We, at times, had my grandmother living with us. It was usually weekly grocery shopping. Then, once or twice a month, we would eat out. If my little sisters and I wanted McDs or something, the we had to give up our little sanck stuff during the week for an extra meal out. I thought this was fair, as we had to decide if we would rather have our extra fruits or cheeses or whatever, or if we would rather have just a small meal once.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
27 Apr 07
GoofInTexas, first, let me WELCOME you to myLot.....I hope that you enjoy your time here; make lots of friends, and a little money, as well. Although I have only been here for about a month; I look forward to it each day; myLot is a wonderful forum for asking questions and learning about others....plus, a few good debates.
Thanks for participating in my discussion; it sounds to me like your mother taught you how to make wise decisions and how to be frugal with money....I think we have all been there at some point....and it really is easier if you have been taught to spend wisely and the consequesnces of not doing so...
I also have great appreciate for the "extended" family members and the lessons that they have taught to many of us...my Grandmother was fantasic, strict but fair and so full of useful knowledge; she taught me so much!!!
Take care.....have fun....enjoy myLot....
@feris0604 (303)
• Malaysia
26 Apr 07
When I growing up, my mother was the cook of the family. She cooks very well too. We did have a vegetable garden behind our house back then. We moved houses a few times. Gradually, my parents bought a house in a rural town. There was a very big garden at the front. My father had a well dug and planted lots of fruit trees. He also had a small vegetable plot specially for the kitchen. My mother started her ventures in rearing rabbits, chickens and even turkeys! Well, it was fun.
We don't have any four seasons here, so we don't have to store any food. However, we did have a freezer as my parents would only go to the market once a week.
Now, we live in a housing area. The market is just next block. There are lots of restaurants offereing low cost and economical dishes.
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I have to admit that I really enjoy gardening and the ability to be able to feed my family home raised and home cooked meals. I also think it is a good lesson for our children if we have the ability to do so.
I appreciate you sharing with me...have a blessed day!
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
26 Apr 07
Geez Tina - that's self-sufficiency alright! Wow, what a wonderful childhood you had! We lived in a small country village when I was a kid and I think the farm animals outnumbered the people! Our family did none of what your's did, but my mother was brought up on a farm and did similar things including butchering pigs and saving the blood to make black puddings. She always did a beautiful home cooked meal every day though, even when she was working full-time. No takeaways in our little village!
We have a small backyard farm too with sheep, chooks and bunnies. The sheep mow the grass, the chooks lay eggs and the bunnies are supposed to have babies for me to sell and make large amounts of money! So far none of the bunny litters have survived so that plan's out the window!
I couldn't eat any of my animals though - i'm too much of a softie! How does your 4year old cope when its slaughtering time? lol Great discussion Tina!
1 person likes this
@ladymoonstone143 (1507)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I also grew with home cooked meals. My mother is a great cook and we go to the market everyday to buy fresh vegetables and fish. We didn't have any refrigerator during that time in my native country, so we always cook fresh. I enjoy going to the market with my mother early in the morning and helped plan what to be cooked during the day.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
What wonderful memories.....isn't it fun to think back over our childhood....I am so glad that so many others have grown up with good home cooked meals....I frequently have my 4yr. old son help me plan what we are having for dinner...the night before.....we have so much fun and it makes him feel good to have his likes/dislikes taking into consideration.
Thanks so much for participating. Take care and have a blessed day!
@ester_tamisin (522)
• Philippines
26 Apr 07
We live in a placed that is regarded as an agricultural heaven. Sadly this was a thing of the past. Gone are the ricefields, fruit plantations, fishponds and vast home gardens.
I remember how we would simply go to garden to pick up some vegetables, or chase a scared chicken frantically running for his life, milk our cows or goats, or troop to the nearby lake and go fishing. Or if something is missing in the backyard farm then we will just swap some produce with our neighbors. Ah, the good old life.
The only thing remaining is probably the home-cooked meals shared amidst laughter and lively chats.
I think I'll start planting even just few small crops that can be grown in containers like chili and tomato and maybe eggplant and bittergourd. That way I'll have tastier veggies for the family. Wonder why it taste better when its right from your garden?
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I must, first of all, apologize for my ignorance of your country and it's culture. I have requested that you add me to your friends list as I think it would help me learn about you and the beautiful Philipines that I have only seen in books and movies. I hope that you add me.
I think the reason the veggies you grow taste better is because part of you grows with them.....and the reward is tangible. Kind of like the end result of a child that you guard and protect; feed and love; growing into a fine upstanding adult. A weird analogy maybe, but I hope you get what I am trying to say!!! LOL
I am glad that my discussion could take your mind back to a joyful place for you and I appreciate you sharing it with me. Take care and have a blessed day!
@monkeywriter (2004)
• United States
26 Apr 07
We had mostly home cooked meals. On Sundays we almost always ate out and it was part of your sunday stuff. We did have meals out during the week but not super often.
Now we eat out once a week, usually still sundays. We have tv dinners one night a week and then make food on the others. SOMETIMES eating out during the week as in the past.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Monkeywriter, thanks for sharing with me....I think that your family does meal times like many other busy families today.
I am glad that you are able to have some good home cooked meals with your family....I think it is important!
Take care and have a blessed day!
@mystery5 (350)
• India
26 Apr 07
I grew up on home-cooked food too. My mom is a great cook, and since we're a widely travelled family, we had every kind of cusine at home. My dad is a vegetarian, so out of respect for him, only veg food is cooked at home, whenever we wanted to eat fish or chicken, we'd go out for dinner, which would be something like once a week.
We bought a farm when I entered my teens, but that was a bit far away from home. So, we'd have the farm grown foods only once in a while, but they were soooooooo tasty! I just love your idea of living on a farm and growing your own vegetables! Thanks a ton for the idea, I still have a long way to go, and I think I'll try to implement something like that as I get older :-)
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I hope that you can get a chance to enjoy true "country living"..it has so many wonderful aspects...raising your own food is just part of it....I could spend hours talking about the benefits of it. LOL
I wish you all of the best with your implementing growing your own foods....learning to can and make jelly from scratch and the rewards I always feel when I can stand back and look at all if jars...freshly filled with fruits and vegetables that I began from just a seed....I really can't put it into words...but it is a "good thing"!!
Thanks for sharing and have a blessed day!
