Lessons From My Mothers Kitchen

When I lost my mother to a long and painful battle with cancer, four years ago, I was thousands of miles away, alone and thick with grief. At first, everything seemed distant and pale, and I went through my days like a robot, lead-footed and sandy-eyed, trying to make sense of each moment. It took a while, but I came to understand that the only way out was through. At some point, I submitted to the dagger of sorrow, as it carved out a hollow in my heart, turning me into some sort of an unself-conscious, sculpted form. I re-lived all the memories of my mother, and gleaned new lessons from them. Through the eighteen essays in this book, I recount how her food, music, and stories -- all the things that she birthed in her spacious, sun-dappled kitchen -- helped me cope with long-distance grief, and taught me to look at life with renewed hope. I also present some special recipes, straight from Amma’s kitchen, and a bunch of kitchen poems in her honour, finding her in such things as the sizzling of spices, the bubbling of flavourful broths, or a melodious Raga swirled into my cup of coffee. My wish is that this book will come to stand for all this and more: a celebration of life and a quiet acceptance of death. I hope that it will inspire and touch many, those who are going through rough times, or those who are simply living the ordinary life, for often we forget that there’s so much magic in it.

When I lost my mother to a long and painful battle with cancer, four years ago, I was thousands of miles away, alone and thick with grief. At first, everything seemed distant and pale, and I went through my days like a robot, lead-footed and sandy-eyed, trying to make sense of each moment. It took a while, but I came to understand that the only way out was through. At some point, I submitted to the dagger of sorrow, as it carved out a hollow in my heart, turning me into some sort of an unself-conscious, sculpted form. I re-lived all the memories of my mother, and gleaned new lessons from them. Through the eighteen essays in this book, I recount how her food, music, and stories -- all the things that she birthed in her spacious, sun-dappled kitchen -- helped me cope with long-distance grief, and taught me to look at life with renewed hope. I also present some special recipes, straight from Amma's kitchen, and a bunch of kitchen poems in her honour, finding her in such things as the sizzling of spices, the bubbling of flavourful broths, or a melodious Raga swirled into my cup of coffee. My wish is that this book will come to stand for all this and more: a celebration of life and a quiet acceptance of death. I hope that it will inspire and touch many, those who are going through rough times, or those who are simply living the ordinary life, for often we forget that there's so much magic in it.

An unforgettable tale of family, food and love

My Mother's Kitchen is a funny, moving memoir about a son’s discovery that his mother has a genius for understanding the intimate connections between cooking, people and love Peter Gethers wants to give his aging mother a very personal and perhaps final gift: a spectacular feast featuring all her favorite dishes. The problem is, although he was raised to love food and wine he doesn’t really know how to cook. So he embarks upon an often hilarious and always touching culinary journey that will ultimately allow him to bring his mother’s friends and loved ones to the table one last time. The daughter of a restaurateur—the restaurant was New York’s legendary Ratner’s—Judy Gethers discovered a passion for cooking in her 50s. In time, she became a mentor and friend to several of the most famous chefs in America, including Wolfgang Puck, Nancy Silverton and Jonathan Waxman; she also wrote many cookbooks and taught cooking alongside Julia Child. In her 80s, she was robbed of her ability to cook by a debilitating stroke. But illness has brought her closer than ever to her son: Peter regularly visits her so they can share meals, and he can ask questions about her colorful past, while learning her kitchen secrets. Gradually his ambition becomes manifest: he decides to learn how to cook his mother the meal of her dreams and thereby tell the story of her life to all those who have loved her. With his trademark wit and knowing eye, Peter Gethers has written an unforgettable memoir about how food and family can do much more than feed us—they can nourish our souls.

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An excerpt from the Preface. The question that will very naturally be asked in connection with our volume is: "Why is such a work required at all?" Is there not already an abundance of books devoted to and exhausting the various branches of the subject, from the monograph which discusses all the points and possibilities of cold mutton to the "complete housewife," whose "common sense" suggestions and elaborate instructions range over all possible topics, from the currying of a lobster to the management of a husband? To such a criticism we should reply that cookery is now accepted as both a science and an art. As a science it is of course subject to all the laws of natural development, while as an art it can also lay claim to the privileges of continued inspiration, and the disciples of to-day need not admit that all wisdom has died with the prophets who have taught in the past.. In sober earnest, there has been during the past few years a much more general recognition of the fact that the work of cooking, upon which depends so much of the comfort, and in fact the happiness of existence, cannot be successfully carried on at hap-hazard or in a "hit or miss" fashion. The interests imperiled are too serious and the results of failures too grave. It requires and demands careful, persistent study, and should utilize also all possible ingenuity and creative power that can be pressed into service. Originality of conception, thoroughness of knowledge, and precision of method may be said to be as important, for the practice of cookery as for the practice of medicine, and it is all evident that the more fully these are called into play for the former, the greater the prospect of get- ting rid altogether of the latter. The due recognition, during the past decade of the I proper position of this branch of human knowledge has led to the establishment of institutions planned to give instruction in the principles of cooking, and to further its higher development as a fine art; and. during the next few years we hope to see the number of such institutions largely increased. I was so fortunate as to obtain one of the earliest first-class diplomas issued by the South Kensington School of Cookery, and with this in my possession,, and a definite purpose before ine of doing what was iii my power to further the knowledge of my fellow-women, and the comfort of ray fellow-men, I could no longer feel that my life was aimless, even though my work should have no higher "range" than that of the kitchen. It is pleasant to be able to state, as well for the credit of the school whose teachings I have carried out, as for my own satisfaction, that such instruction as I have attempted to give in Great Britain and this country, through lessons and practical examples with demonstrative before classes, has been most cordially and favorably received in all quarters, and has brought me very warm acknowledgments for practical services rendered. In the course of my work with classes, I have found that there was quite a general demand for a book that should embody with somewhat more comprehensiveness arid completeness of detail than was possible in any single course of lectures, the whole range of instruction, and should give the particular application of the general principles; a book that should be not a mere stereotyped schedule of dinners, suppers and breakfasts, nor a depressing list of semi-intelligible recipes, but one that should present a comprehensive insight into the general rules for the intelligent preparation of food, and at the same time clearly describe the several means and processes of arriving at desired results....

In My Mothers Kitchen a story of mother and daughters bond they shared. Told from the author's own experiences and lessons learned from her mother. Filled with beautiful photo's and mouth watering recipes from traditional Italian to delicious baked treats for all. "Memories like stories fade with time unless they are shared."

The long awaited children s version of the best-selling cookbook Nourishing Traditions."

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

"I love helping mother in the kitchen." A little girl discovers different colours, sounds and smells in a busy kitchen. She delights in watching and helping her mother, and enjoying the food. Learn about spices and things that are found in the kitchen in the picture glossary in English and Bahasa Malaysia at the end of the book.