I have to confess, my love of food and my joy in cooking all come from my mother, Maureen Kavanagh McCann... She was, while not adventurous, a truly gifted cook.
Like most people who cook, I spent hours watching my mother sift and chop and measure. She embraced the convenience foods of the time, but baking was the one area where no shortcuts were allowed... and though I am not her equal in the baking department, I do make a pretty fair pie crust... And I'll put my breads up against anyone's!
All due to her.
Also pictured here is my favorite (OK, only) mother-in-law...
Harriet Otelia Browder Hensley. I was introduced to many southern foods at her table... And though we may have had different ideas about just how long to cook a green vegetable, I discovered foods I might never have come to love...
And her pound cake was somehow as light as air.
I was terrified the first time I made biscuits for her. She took a bite and glared at me. I thought I was in real trouble until she said, "Did you use... Lard?" I said, "Yes ma'am," and she smiled... and ate about a dozen... I knew I was safe.
(I may have told you the biscuit story before... but it's Mother's Day... indulge me!)
So, a wonderful wonderful day to all of the mothers who take the time to instill a love of food, and its preparation, in their children. And a special "thank you" to these two remarkable women... I miss them every day.
(Recipes for today's eggs can be found in the blogpost for July 18, 2012.)