Both of my Grannies were amazing cooks and one even had a restaurant. I learned to cook from both of them, since they took turns caring for me growing up. My Dad’s Mom specialized in rolls, peanut butter cake, pound cake and an assortment of candied desserts. While my Mom’s Mom rocked chicken and dumplins’ and an assortment of old school Southern food. They taught me how to cook from scratch and from memory (no recipes). My Mom’s Mom even taught me to cook with one hand, so one hand is always free to answer the phone or get the door (this was even a challenge on Top Chef Masters recently). Today, a lady at Sur La Table even called me Tricia “Deen”, since I helped her with a recipe while in the store. I had a good laugh as Paula Deen is no where near as good my Grannies in my opinion.
Not long before my Grannies fell ill and both passed away, I spent time with each of them capturing the recipes that we made together throughout the years. I love bringing out their recipes or even making their classic meals for my family and friends to enjoy. It keeps me close to them and also to my Mom. My Mom taught me how to make biscuits that she learned from Granny. I still have the old Wilton baking sheet she used for biscuits ever since I was a little girl. The sheet is really thin, bent on one side, metal (created long before non-stick) and is starting to get powdery. I don’t use it much any more, but it will always remain in my kitchen among my other pots and pans. And I find myself smiling every time I see the baking sheet as I remember all the great times making biscuits.
