Thursday, August 13, 2009

Memory Dishes

Laurie commented recently about how dishes hold food memories, and asked if any dishes in my life hold memories of certain foods. I've been pondering this, and want to pass on the question, as well as answer it for myself.

Mama had/has (Mama? do you still have it?) a lovely flowered china tureen that is always associated in my memory with spaghetti. I'm sure she used it for other things, but spaghetti sauce is what I picture in it. I also hear our friend Brian moaning, "Oh, E, my belly!" because he'd eaten too much of Mama's wonderful spaghetti.

A pan might not be the kind of dish Laurie was thinking of, but I have LOTS of memories of Mama's "chicken fryer." Beef A'La Mom, tuna and rice, the aforementioned spaghetti sauce... I could go on and on.

Then there are camp pans, which conjure up memories of baked chicken, wheat rolls, zucchini cake... and scrubbing!

What about you? Do any dishes in your life hold memories of certain foods?

9 comments:

Laurie said...

Mike says..."The one I remember (and it's not a real fond memory) is a fish shaped metal mold "dish" that my great aunt would make tomato aspic in. I never cared for it, though my Dad loves it."
Laurie says, "I agree with not caring for it. It must take an aquired taste or true Swedish cooking appreciation."

Laurie said...

Oh yes, my Mom-in-law used to serve us the best soups and stews in her cabbage soup tureen with matching cabbage bowls. By "cabbage" I mean they were green and looked like a hollowed out head of cabbage. (I haven't seen these in a while, so wonder if she still has them.)

Laurie said...

And yeah, I'm workin up an appetite with these great dish stories!

Genene said...

Yes, Laurel, I still have that dish. It is packed away during our "wanderings" but I look forward to using it again. Hopefully, we can eat spaghetti sauce from it together (although we would need a supplemental dish to feed all the blessings =})

Genene said...

A memory has surfaced =} of a depression glass (real or faux I don't know) bowl my mother always served potato salad in. You could see the salad since it was transparent. Even better, she made Banana Pudding (from scratch pudding) in that same bowl. Yum yum!!!

Laurel said...

I enjoyed yours and Mike's memories, Laurie. :-)
Mama, yes, we would certainly need a supplemental dish for spaghetti sauce! Any dishes that hold special memories for you?

Genene said...

Elle, did you read the rest of the comment? I think I also mentioned another dish on the original post?
Sweet memories have been provoked by these particular posts.
Love n Hugs

Laurel said...

I missed your memory, Mama. I couldn't figure out how until I saw that we posted in the same minute. :-)
Interesting you mention a glass bowl; we were talking about taking a 7 layer salad to fellowship lunch tomorrow and I was thinking how nice it would be to take it in a glass dish. All I have is my cake plate/punch bowl, but I might try it in that!

Genene said...

I think I'd try it if I were you. It would be very pretty!