3. Our Burnt-To-Crisp Burgers
“It’s funny how cooking habits can be passed down through generations. My great-grandmother was not a great cook and as a result, my grandma grew up thinking that burgers were supposed to be burnt to a crisp. She liked them that way and made my mother eat them the same way. No one had the heart to tell my grandma that the burgers were overcooked until she discovered a stash of them hidden in the closet, infested with ants.”
Sounds like a funny family story! It’s always interesting to hear about food traditions and family quirks. It’s amazing to think that a great-grandmother’s cooking habits could impact multiple generations. It’s also great to imagine the scene when the grandmother found the stash of old burgers covered in ants! Classic mischievous behavior from a young mother trying to escape the burnt burgers.
4. Mom’s Expired Foods
“My mother’s family don’t pay attention to expiration dates and my mom was raised in a region with heavy snow. She would buy large quantities of canned goods and store them in the garage for many years without getting rid of them. She would dig through the back of the shelves and prepare meals with the oldest items, regardless of their appearance or odor. As a child, I was often sick and now, even though I only visit, I have been food poisoned four times in the last five years due to her cooking with expired food. I have stopped eating there.”
People in cold areas of the world, such as the snowy north, often store canned goods as a way to prepare for harsh winters and potential power outages. Canned goods have a long shelf life and do not require refrigeration, making them ideal for stockpiling. However, it’s important to regularly check the expiration dates of these items and discard any that are past their prime to avoid any food safety issues.
5. Dad’s Mediterranean Cuisine Rice
“My father thinks that all spices can be substituted for one another. I showed him a rice recipe with flavors inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, using ingredients such as parmesan cheese, rosemary, thyme, garlic, lemon juice, and possibly basil. It was a simple dish that could easily be prepared using a rice cooker without having to use another pot. A week later, I called to ask if he had tried making it and how it turned out. He responded that he had tried it and that it was “okay.” When I asked what he had used in place of the rosemary, he informed me that he used cumin instead.”
This father has a unique approach to cooking and flavor! While it’s true that some spices can be interchanged, it’s important to consider the unique flavor profiles that each spice brings to a dish, otherwise the outcome may not be exactly what you one had intended. But it’s always a good experience to try new things and step outside of one’s comfort zone in the kitchen.
6. My Mom’s Rolled Tortillas
“Because my mom never used salt, I wasn’t aware of the importance of seasoning until I started working in a kitchen. Also, my parents never cleaned the grill, so anything cooked on it would have burnt pieces on it. My mom once made enchiladas with limited ingredients, and it turned out to be a terrible experience since she baked rolled tortillas with onions, black olives, and salsa poured on top.”
We learn a lot of things from our parents, and cooking is no exception. But what if the cooking habits we inherit from our parents are not necessarily the best? This is the case with this mother’s habit of not using salt meant that they didn’t learn about the importance of seasoning food until their first kitchen job.
