| I think the best way to say "Thanks" is a quiet
reflective moment of everybody who had something to do with this little book – My grandmother, of course;
The many teachers I had in Scotland who taught me to think
and to feel as well as to read and to count, all of which are necessary tools and skills
of a good cook;
My children whom I love so much and whose presence in my life
inspired me to put together this book of memories – as well as the others I threaten
them with – for them;
My friends who listened to my enthusiasm and shared my
adventures, first with the printed book for the family and now with this link to
ElectricScotland.com;
My brother and his family, and my in-laws and special friends
who were gracious enough to accept copies of the original book as Christmas gifts in 1998;
my dear, new ("cyber" according to my children) friends that I’ve made
since becoming "connected" to the Web;
And a special thanks to Alastair at electricscotland.com
whose patience with this amateur contributor never seemed to end and whose kindness led me
to believe this may bring "hame" a little nearer to other exiles.
I also need to thank the publishers and authors of my
favorite cookbooks in my kitchen library whose clear instructions made cooking and baking
a fun and successful family activity at our house –
Culinary Arts Institute Encyclopedic Cookbook,
published by Grosse and Dunlap.
We always called this "The White Cookbook" because of its cover.
I was thrilled to find one in great condition in a used book store in Phoenix and bought
it for Stephanie. Mine, all beat up and bruised but still surviving, is special to me
because John bought it for me at a Giant Drug Emporium in Laurel, Md., when we'd only been
married a few months. It's the book I learned to cook from. This cookbook is now available
in reprint, paperback, at Barnes and Nobles Bookstores, and if you can only afford to buy
one cook book this is the one. (Because, after all, this is the "macaroni" cook
book!)
The Fannie Merritt Farmer Boston Cooking School
Cookbook. Stephanie and I thought we were so lucky when we found a copy of this
in another used book store for $4.10. It wasn't much later that I saw it was reprinted and
for sale at Barnes and Noble's. (This is the "brownie" cook book!)
Lion House Recipes, published by Deseret Book
Company.
I like this as a kind of souvenir recipe book from our years in Utah. The
Lion House Kitchen is a wonderful restaurant in Salt Lake City with all the food made from
scratch and absolutely delicious.
The Complete Electric Skillet-Frypan Cookbook,
published by Hearthside Press Incorporated.
This was one of the first books we ever bought, along with "365 Ways
to Cook Hamburger" (which I see is now reprinted in paperback) and, as my homemaker
handbook, Phyllis Diller’s Household Hints – this book is
hilarious as she tells tales of herself and her husband, Fang, and his family. Among the
many tips are instructions to her readers to always keep the drapes closed tight because
this makes the mess inside the house harder to see.
Sunset Mexican Cook Book, Simplified Techniques of
155 Classic Recipes, published by Sunset Press.
As it says, the recipes are very easy to follow.
A Taste of Scotland in Food and Pictures, published
by Pan Books, London and Sidney.
Wonderful recreations of Scottish foods.
Navy Wives Club, Edzell 239, Cookery Log, published
at US Naval Security Group Activity, Edzell, Angus, Scotland.
This is a souvenir of my meeting John at this Base, and was given to me as
a bridal shower present from Tim and Alice Farrell, who introduced us.
Better Homes and Gardens Home Canning and Better
Homes and Gardens Home Made Bread Cookbooks, published by Meredith Corporation.
Ah, the joys of home canning California produce – apple pie filling,
tomatoes, pears, peaches, persimmons – to be eaten with fresh, warm, home made bread.
But I think the most important recipe book and story book is
your own. There are many reasons I’ve tried to create an interesting little book for
my family. Principally is the hope that my daughters and son will begin now to look to
their futures as parents, grandparents, friends and examples to their own sons and
daughters. Not only every recipe has a story, but every man, woman, and child has their
own story, also. I hope my children and those of you who may read this on the web, will
write your stories of food, fun, and friendships for your families.
And, finally, I’d like to share one last poem with you.
The Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compiled a selection
of poems, stories, songs and articles related to women’s lives from the early to the
mid 20th Century. I was asked to be one of the women reading the poems, reviewing them,
and making recommendations for inclusion in the anthology, published as
"Legacy." I was happy to see several of my recommendations selected for
inclusion. "My Wants" best describes how I feel about my family and friends and
this book –
I only want a little house,
A lilac tree beside the door.
A house with windows clean and bright,
And sunlight dancing on the floor
To the lilting music of childish laughter;
A hearth whereon a kettle sings;
Some birds to nest in the lilac tree,
And a patch of sky to try their wings.
Roberta Bates, Relief Society Magazine, 1943.
And, one last look at the Top of the Hill from a D. C.
Thompson newspaper clipping,
 |
