The thing that I think makes meals so delicious in my house is that everyone is allowed to help out. Whether its cooking the pasta, baking the potatoes or grilling the steak, I would say I’ve pretty much learned how to do it all. As a little kid my mom would always tell me how I used to ask so many questions about what she was making and how she was doing it, I guess its just stuck with me ever since.
When there is a big meal being cooked in the Manning household you can usually find all five of us huddled in the kitchen getting everything together. While we all help I would say my mom is the ring-leader. She tells you what to do and that is that, and no one better “lean on her shovel.” She always uses this phrase. At least once every meal someone would make a comment like “That doesn’t look the same” or “Are you sure thats right?” and her response always is “your leaning on my shovel people.” Basically meaning I think I know what I’m doing.
I would say the favorite thing I like to cook is the meatballs for our famous spaghetti and meatball dinner. We get fresh ground beef, a couple eggs, bread crumbs, milk, and some different spices and put it all into one bowl. This is the best part, using my clean hands I would mash it all together. After all the mashing is done I grease a cookie sheet and roll the meat balls about the size of a golf ball and put them in the oven to bake. My mom has always baked her meatballs because well its better for you then frying them, and I think it makes them taste even better.
I think the main reason I like to cook is because my mom likes too. Shes always cutting out new recipes and trying new things so its just an attitude that I’ve grown up around. I come from a big family so we love cooking up all sorts of fun things that bring the family together. You get such a feeling of accomplishment when you look around the table and everyone is smiling and enjoying the food you prepare, and of course all the compliments don’t hurt either.
I’ll never forget at my cousins wedding the present that my aunt gave her. I was 11 and it has suck with me since then. My aunt complied all the “family” recipes that had been passed down or they had discovered into a scrap book. Each page hand decorated with the recipe. I remember sitting next to my mom saying “That’s what I want.” For the special occasions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas there were pages of recipes and my aunt had included pictures of us all gathered around the table. I thought this was such a thoughtful present because its something that you will always have and it allows you to continue the tradition of passing down “secret family recipes.”
So I would say I cook because I associate it with family coming together to have a good time. My mom also has always stressed that she cooks because its better for you. I mean fast food, Lean Cuisine, and take out are great every once and a while. But its gets old, and thats something my mom cooking never does. And thats why I love it and I want to be able to do the same with my kids someday … so my mom better start working on that book!
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