Family

I can't really pinpoint what it was yesterday that made me feel so sentimental but several times I found myself thinking about family and traditions. Earlier in the day, Eric and I had decided to make lists of core values we hoped to develop within our family that we would share with each other that night. We discussed our hopes, plans and mission for our marriage and for our children and what we were and were not willing to compromise to meet those goals. It was really neat to have similar things on our lists and to be on the same page. We are still working on a "family verse" to claim but I am so thankful God has provided a great foundation for our family. Eric and I are very fortunate to have parents that are still married as well as grandparents whose marriages were only separated by death. We have had many people walk ahead of us setting examples of how to make marriages work. No, they weren't perfect, but they made the choice to keep on choosing each other and to work through the tough times that surely came their way.

My paternal grandparents were married for over 60 years when my grandfather passed away. My grandmother made dinner just about every night for my grandfather and served it to him in his favorite reclining chair. She never complained, never ordered his help in the kitchen, never told him he was "on your own tonight, buddy" and never made him a meal he didn't enjoy. I thought of my grandma a lot yesterday and think my love for cooking came from her. Her house always has the wonderful aroma of home style cooking. Whether she's making chicken and rice, Swedish apple pies, potted pork chops, or my favorite, her Motor Home Pineapple Cake (yeah, there's a story behind it) she is always making something with love, probably why everything always tastes so good.

Maybe that's why I was feeling so sentimental yesterday. Starting with making a list of hopes and dreams for my family, reflecting back on the memories I had as a child and being thankful for a family legacy of marriages that have stood the test of time. The fact that my house smelled a little bit like grandma's probably helped too. For dinner last night we had her recipe of potted pork chops with egg noodles, green beans and mashed sweet potatoes. Here's to memories and a great smelling house. Why not serve your husband dinner tonight in his favorite chair?

(If only you could see this recipe written in her beautiful handwriting...)
Potted Pork Chops
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp butter
4 pork chops
1 pkg. McCormick Brown Gravy mix
8 oz large egg noodles

Cook noodles according to package directions. Brown onions in butter in a large pan. Add pork chops and brown on both sides. Add three cups water and brown gravy mix. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour until meat is tender. Serve over noodles with steamed green beans and mashed sweet potatoes (just like my grandma does).

Mashed Sweet Potatoes
4 medium size sweet potatoes
4 tbsp butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
Dash of salt

Poke potatoes several times with a fork then bake (unwrapped) in 400 degree oven for an hour or until a knife slides in and out easily. Peel skins off potatoes and place in a large bowl with butter, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Combine well and serve.