As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Cooking With Family History


I love using family recipes. In fact, I wrote a post in my CeLeBRaTe!! series about using family recipes in our celebrations.

Recently, I celebrated family in my cooking. But this time, I didn't use a family recipe. This time I celebrated family with something I used to cook in!  




I was recently given a cast iron skillet that had belonged to my great-grandmother. Anna has been gone for many years as she passed away when I was only a few months old. My mother tells me that she was a "Martha" in her day -- cooking wonderful meals, serving on beautiful dishes, sewing quilts, hand embroidering linens. Mom lived with her grandparents for a time, so Anna was a big influence in her life. She inspired Mom's love for reading by sharing books and stories with her. She inspired a love for beautiful things. She provided the stability of a warm and welcoming home. And she provided comfort, often holding Mom's hand at night until she drifted off to sleep. 


I have several pieces in my home that had been my great-grandmother's, including her china tea set, a lovely blue transferware platter, silver spoons, and a handmade quilt. And this new-to-me skillet is a treasure as well.  



Do you have something in your kitchen that keeps alive your family history?

10 comments:

  1. I have a small iron skillet about 8" (probably the same as yours)--it's just right for one package of cornbread mix (yes, I do use the package stuff and we love it). I love the old things, especially when it came from a family member or friend. Love your recipe series. Blessings, Sharon D.

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  2. What a beautiful woman your great-grandmother was. Real beauty. It must run in your family Cheryl, as you have that kind of heart for home and family too.

    I don't think I have anything but a blender handed down from my grandmother. Not super old or a treasured item. I am trying to build that kind of thing though. It's special.

    Deanna

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  3. Unfortunately, not too many things, but lovely memories! xo

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  4. Unfortunately I don't have many things from the generations before my grandparents. Having had large families, being "plain" (Amish Mennonite), and living semi-transiently, they didn't have many items to pass along. But I do have a few glass serving plates that were my Grandma's.

    Your great-grandmother has such a soft and kind face, and I can see some family resemblance! Enjoy your new old treasure :-)

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  5. Yes I have a lot of things but not a cast iron pan! I even through passage of time have lost/got rid of my cast iron pan. Would love to find my mother's. I get such a kick out of using old things and thinking of the stories those old pieces could tell -- or the stories they heard ! A beautiful post!

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  6. Great post! I just came across a couple of iron skillets a few weeks ago that I forgotten all about. I'm pretty sure they belonged to my husband's mother. I also have a slew of kitchen items and utensils that were my mothers that posted about several months ago. I love having AND using these items and love the memories they bring back too!

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  7. Yes, I am certainly blessed in that regard. What a treasure! Nothing like a cast iron skillet well seasoned from years of use. I bake a lot of things in mine...everything from cornbread to biscuits to brownies. I even like making casseroles in it. It always makes a fun presentation on the table. I see the family resemblance! Your great-grandmothef was a lovely lady.

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  8. I actually have quite a few things. A tiny cast iron skillet that was my granny's, a sifter that was my great-aunt Mabel's, some pink depression glass and a few serving pieces that were my great-grandmother's, and a few cake plates that were my grandmother's. Nothing very valuable, except that they belonged to people I loved, which is the most valuable part to me:)

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  9. A beautiful tribute to your great gandmother Anna, I too have treasured items from family I have my paternal grandmothers cabinet ,and several of her dishes as well as my maternal grandmothers dishes. memoeries past down are priceless, thank you for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Sue

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  10. Jim uses his grandmother's cast iron skillet for cornbread. He uses her recipe for cornbread too and it is the BEST ever!

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