RECIPE BOX: Taste of meals past

We all have that special dish or dessert that sends us down memory lane. My aunt’s taco salad takes me to summer family reunions. Grandma’s chicken pot pie brings me to the table with family. My mother-in-law’s cheesy potatoes fill me with warm memories of holiday gatherings. Of course, homemade food hits the spot, but it does more than just bring pleasure to our tastebuds. Each recipe that is prepared and shared is stored away in a memory that resurfaces every time it is shared again. Not just the delicious dishes but the ones we aren’t so fond of, they also hold memories. 

My aunt was going to town eating at a Christmas gathering. She plowed into a plate of what she thought was homemade chicken and noodles. My brother and sister-in-law had prepared the dish and brought it along to share. Knowing my aunt was a very picky eater, we all found pleasure in waiting until she devoured every last morsel before my brother informed her she just ate noodles and pheasant. Needless to say, when that dish is prepared again it won’t bring up a good memory for her, but certainly a good laugh for everyone else. 

When someone gives me a recipe, it always comes with a story. We can recall where we got a recipe, when we first ate the food, and sometimes where we were when we had it. After someone passes away many families continue making loved one’s signature dishes on their birthday to celebrate their life. Sitting around a table laughing and telling stories makes everything taste just a little bit better. 

When I was sick, my sister-in-law showed up with homemade apple dumplings. It’s not something I would make often and certainly not for myself. I know it takes a lot of work to slice the apples, prepare the dough, and compile the dumplings to bake. When she showed up to my door with the warm dessert, I felt special that she took the time for me. The dumplings tasted sweet and left me with a warm memory, reminding me that I am cared for. Food brings people together because it fills us up from the inside out. 

Contact Ashley at ashley@tippgazette.com

Cheesy Potatoes

Ingredients

1 bag hash browns

1 16oz sour cream

1 12oz bag shredded cheese 

1 small onion chopped

1 can cream chicken soup

1 stick butter melted

Directions

Mix all ingredients (reserving 1/4 cup butter)

Pour into sprayed casserole dish. 

Bake 375 degrees for about 45 minutes. 

Before putting in oven, sprinkle with 2 cups crushed corn flakes. 

Pour on remaining butter. 

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Dorito Taco Salad 

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef

1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning 

3 to 4 Romaine lettuce hearts rinsed then chopped

1 cup black beans rinsed

1 large tomato, chopped OR sliced cherry tomatoes 

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 ½ cups nacho cheese Doritos broken into bite-size pieces 

1 cup Catalina dressing OR use your favorite salad dressing (we like to eat ours with ranch dressing too)

fresh cilantro optional

Instructions

Brown and crumble ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain grease. Add taco seasoning and water called for on packet. Stir until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let meat cool slightly.

In a large salad bowl add chopped lettuce, black beans, tomato and cheese. Add slightly cooled ground beef and gently toss to combine everything. Serve now, or chill in refrigerator until ready to eat. (Don’t add chips until ready to serve.)