A Little Ranting

Have you ever noticed that old recipes will only have a paragraph or so of instructions and new recipes will have 8 to 10 steps for a very simple recipe. I wonder if that's because the average young women/man under the age of 35 doesn't know how to cook today. I didn't know when I left home. My mother didn't want us in the kitchen making a mess.

But I learned because I wanted to. My first cookbook was a Better Homes and Garden, in 1962, with the red and white plaid cover. I still have it and use it for a lot of recipes. My Pumpkin Pie and Lemon Meringue Pie recipes are from that cookbook, as are my New England Clam Chowder and Oyster Stew. The one most special is the Spanish Gazpacho. I've had chefs tell me they have never eaten better gazpacho.

There is a whole section on table setting and entertaining, and not once was a T.V. tray mentioned. I don't know why I'm worried about children being able to set a proper table, they don't even eat at the table, or eat with silverware.

It's a sad nation of children we are raising when after they have graduated from Yale, Harvard, Brown, etc. they have to then take an etiquette course to be able to attend big corporate dinners without embarrassing themselves or their new employers.

Don't let this happen to your children teach them how to cook simple meals and have proper table manners. Have dinner at the table with them, turn off the T.V. and listen to what they have to say. They will love you for it and you will be so proud.

And that's all I have to say about that, for now.