As my brother and dad mentioned in their posts, to celebrate my Mom’s birthday yesterday, I wanted to share some of our favorite of her recipes.
While I thoroughly enjoyed eating her food as a kid, I’m not sure I realized just how lucky I was to be eating such high quality nutritious food until I got older.
Even so, as much as I enjoyed eating her food, I loved to cook with her even more. Some of my fondest childhood memories include making these recipes and so much more.
Once I left the house, I’d always look forward to visiting home and taking on various time consuming projects in the kitchen with her. To this day, cooking and baking remain a constant source of joy for me and I’m so grateful for my mom inspiring these passions in me.
Hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do!
A dinner staple in our household throughout my childhood and a true classic. With cheesy goodness, rich protein with chicken and tasty sauce this one always delivers. My favorite dinner of hers.
My favorite desert. My mom would make these every time I came home to visit. The rich chocolate and cherry flavors are a perfect combo.
Pro tip: soak the cherries in Grand Marnier overnight before making the cookies for even more depth of flavor.
I looked forward to passover every year because of this charoset. Once I moved out of the house my mom would ship me jars of it so I could still have some. They never lasted long as a jar could be considered a normal serving for me.
My mom always instilled in us the value of simple fresh dishes. This dish is as simple as it gets but it blows store bought apple sauce out of the water. I can still feel the excitement I had as a kid when the smell of the cooking apples would waft through the house.
I really love eating kale. Raw, sautéed, baked – I enjoy all forms. This dish is my earliest memory of kale. Simple and delicious, this dish kicked off a lifelong love.
This was a summer staple in our house but also an early lesson in entrepreneurship. Each summer my mom would take us to the store to source lots of lemons and ice. We’d mix up batches of this lemonade and hit our street corner with a sign. “Lemonade, 25 cents!” we’d shout as we tried to sell refreshments and chocolate chip cookies to our neighbors.
This recipe is one I haven’t had in some time but the post embodies everything that made my mom so awesome. Going to teach kids how to cook, coaching baseball – she was always on a mission to spread joy and find ways to get involved in our lives.
This is one of the first deserts I can remember eating. We continued to make and enjoy it over the years as it was one of her favorites. And yes, the rumors are true. I did love to repeatedly yell “Clafoutis” as a child (and maybe still do).
Happy Birthday Momma! Really wish we could be spending it in the kitchen cooking up some of your favorites, but I find solace in celebrating the joy you brought me and so many others through food.
Love always,
–
j
Tara says
I love that you three did this, thank you for sharing with us. It was always so nice over the years to hear of your family in the recipes as I raised my family with them too. Thank you and so much love to you all as you navigate life without your beautiful mom.
Andrea says
What a wonderful post, a great tribute to Elana. She is missed. She touched a lot of people with her recipes. Her website is the first one I check if I am looking for a recipe. Happy birthday Elana.
Cammie Grace says
Thank you for sharing your memories and favorites.
I’ll always be grateful for your mother’s wisdom and inspiration in the kitchen. When my daughter was 4 years old (she’s now 27) she was diagnosed with endless food allergies. Back then everything available was empty calories made of sweet white rice flour. I suspect, with a heart much like your own mother’s, I began researching how to maximize nutrition and make palatable for a 4 year old all foods she would consume. Ever thankful I was led to your mom’s recipes!! She turned things around for both of us. And made food fun again.
Over the decades of learning from your mom the one thing that was most evident was her immense love for all three of her boys ❤️ That never changes no matter where we are. Imagine her watching over each of you with this same love every day.
Much love to your family ❤️