Grab A Plate

Make each meal memorable

subscribe SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL
info
You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of emails you receive.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Gluten Free
    • Lunch
    • Snacks
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Out & About
  • About
  • Contact
  • Free eCookbook

Inspired by Dad

September 5, 2011 By Patricia 11 Comments

Well-worn, tried-and-true recipes from my parents

A year ago today my dad passed away, which is sill unbelievable to me. My dad was an excellent cook and an awesome baker and he made homemade bread every week of my life that I can remember. He worked in a bakery when he was young, and never tired of telling everyone about the “junk” used to make sliced, processed white bread. I’ve always been inspired by dad.

When he cooked, he chose to use ingredients from the garden, if possible, prepared in a simple manner. His baking was a bit more elaborate and he is known far and wide in our circle of family and friends, first and foremost, for his bread, his delectable doughnuts, sticky buns and of course, traditional Italian zeppole (which we called ‘crespelle’ in our family, but crespelle is something a little different – not sure how this came to be. Dialects I suppose?).

My dad and mom and a typical “welcome home” treat

My love of food, cooking, and especially baking was surely inspired by my dad. He loved to gather with people over food to talk politics, economics, geography, which bugs and animals were chewing away at his garden, and to laugh, argue and tell bad jokes. Really bad jokes — though to him they were hysterical and that’s what really made everyone laugh!

I was visiting my mom recently and when I left to come back home I brought a few old recipes with me. I love how they look — yellowed, worn from repeated reference and splattered with ingredients. To see my dad’s handwriting on some of the recipes made it seem like he wasn’t gone. And I suppose with his recipes in hand, I’ll always have something to remember him by. That and all my good memories.

Filed Under: Home, Out & About

« Vegan Sugar Cookies with Lemon
Baked Beet Chips with Blue Cheese Dip »
Subscribe
subscribe
Share your email & I will send you new recipes!

You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of emails you receive.

Comments

  1. Donna Gehlmann says

    October 25, 2011 at 11:45 pm

    Wonderful! Love it!!!!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      October 26, 2011 at 8:28 pm

      Thanks! Love those old recipes & memories!
      Reply
  2. Lisa says

    October 26, 2011 at 4:13 am

    Love the picture of the recipes. The picture of your parents brought tears to my eyes. I will never forget all of the wonderful smells of the "fancy" (to me) cooking in your house!!!!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      October 26, 2011 at 8:27 pm

      Thanks, Lisa! I know - there was always something cooking in our house!
      Reply
  3. Lana says

    October 27, 2011 at 8:19 pm

    I'm sorry for your loss, but what treasure you behold in the recipes. Thanks for sharing with everyone. I myself could make a meal out of freshly baked bread. I can only imagine the magnificent aroma bellowing out of the windows of your parents home, leaving the neighbors salivating or knocking on the door with some silly excuse to be invited in, knowing your dad would more than likely offer them some.
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      November 3, 2011 at 4:56 pm

      Thank you, Lana. My dad's bread was amazing! Good memories!
      Reply
  4. carla says

    October 30, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    made me sad to see Dad's handwriting but love the picture!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      November 3, 2011 at 4:34 pm

      I know....
      Reply
  5. Sue says

    November 3, 2011 at 3:38 am

    I can't even count how many pieces of your Dad's bread I have eaten in my life--I sure do miss it! Here's a joke from your Dad: "Why does the golfer wear two pairs of pants?" Answer--"He might get a hole in one" HA HA I always thought that one was funny! It is nice to see the photo of your mom and dad!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      November 3, 2011 at 4:33 pm

      I miss it too!! Good memories though.
      Reply
    • Patricia says

      November 3, 2011 at 4:55 pm

      Those jokes!! I remember T & E thought that one was pretty funny, too!
      Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


I'm Patricia

Welcome to Grab a Plate!

Growing up surrounded by my Italian family it was always, "grab a plate" whenever anyone came to visit. Food was always a celebration, even everyday meals, and I like it that way. I try to make each meal memorable with my recipes for mainly meatless, mostly healthy, and easy-to-make dishes (with sweet treats in between).

Learn More...

Search

Subscribe
subscribe
Share your email & I will
send you new recipes!

You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of emails you receive.

Featured On

See More >>

featured posts

A bowl of Spaghetti Squash with Lemon-Garlic Butter Sauce with Parmesan cheese over the top is a fabulous dish that's easy to make!

Spaghetti Squash with Lemon-Garlic Butter Sauce

A bowl of caramelized onion hummus is a wonderful snack.

Caramelized Onion Hummus

Easy, Kid-Friendly Cinnamon Rolls

Copyright © 2013 - 2020 Grab A Plate · Logo by Response Creative · Disclosure and Privacy Policies