Mother’s Day is just a few days away. A few years ago I shared what being a mom meant to me, today though I want to focus on my mom.
You see it is because of my mom that I love cooking and food.
Growing up my mom cooked almost everything from scratch. We enjoyed homemade yogurt, homemade bread, homemade cookies, and a home cooked dinner every night. My mom spent a good portion of her days in the kitchen.
And on top of all that she spent many hours each summer and fall canning and preserving food for us to eat throughout the year. In fact, she canned several hundred quarts of food each year, for many years.
My mom is not really a recipe follower though. She makes do with what she has and turns it into whatever she can. She can make a roast stretch into more meals than anyone I know. And when things are tight she can take three cans of various foods, that you would never think go together, and turn it into a meal.
She also taught me how to give and that food is one of the easiest ways you can give and share with others.
Over the years I saw her work very hard in the kitchen canning and putting away food for us to use throughout the year, but the impression that really sticks in my mind is not the canning itself, it is the food she gave away. There were several years that for every 10 or so jars of food my mom canned for us, she gave one away.
As a child I would sit back and wonder why she was giving away what we all worked so hard to put up, but as an adult I see the reality of what she did and it has left a lasting impression on me. THANK YOU MOM!
So, today in honor of Mother’s Day Sunday I want to share a few of my favorite recipes from my mom. All three are desserts, because both my mom and I have a sweet tooth, and cannot resist a good dessert. But all three are desserts that use everyday ingredients that you probably have on hand in your kitchen.
Plus, they are quick and easy to make. Ever wonder why I love quick and easy cooking so much, well I think maybe it comes from my mom. 🙂
Lemon Bars ( I adapted these to be gluten free also.)
Coconut Bars ( I also have a gluten free version of these.)
And probably my all time favorite dessert from my childhood Mom’s Quick and Easy Cheesecake
What is your favorite recipe or kitchen lesson that you learned from your mom? I would love to hear what your mom’s taught you when it comes to food and working in the kitchen.
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