I grew up with milk on the table. Pop was considered an adults only mixer for alcohol. Potato chips were party fare, not a weekly pantry staple.

Food was fairly plain in my house growing up. My mother’s British heritage may have been partly to blame for her lack of imagination in the kitchen.  She was a fair cook and a good baker, but at the same time, she did not enjoy the labour of getting supper on the table every night for four unappreciative kids. Meals were a consistent cycle of meat, potatoes, and frozen peas.  Repeat, repeat, repeat. Italian food was spaghetti. I laughed when I read her recipe — ground beef, tomato paste, and a can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup.  A couple of drops of Tobasco to spice it up. At the time, it was my favourite supper.  

All four kids turned out to be very adventurous eaters. Lots of spice, herbs and ethnic fusions.  All four of us are pretty good cooks, and all four of us eat very healthy. Speaking for myself, there are no frozen peas in my freezer.  Not even for a sore knee.

Looking back on all this, other than the fact that my dinners have a little more variety, I pretty much eat the way my mother taught me. Three meals per day, no chocolate cake for breakfast, lots of seasonal fruit, one serving only of dessert, vegetables with every meal, etc. Common sense eating. A snack was celery with cheese, not a bag of cheesies. I am very grateful to her to her for instilling these habits in me.

It was worth all those mushy frozen peas.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog.  Your comments, questions, ideas and suggestions are always welcome.  You can comment here, or choose between Facebook, Twitter, or the contact button.  

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger.  I keep it short and to the point.  Topics are as wide ranging as a straight but not narrow path.