How the Tasty Plate got started...

Can you think of family without thinking of some great food? Well, I can barely get through a story of what we did, where we went, or who we saw, without adding something about a tasty dish. I started this project in 2000 – nine years ago. At that time, I gathered up a lot of recipes and stories, and then we moved to our new home, and life as gone fast and furious since.

A few months back, I was talking to a fellow student who lives in Tennessee; and before the end of our conversation memories of a childhood trip through the Smoky Mountains entered my mind. Along with memories of my sister (Mistie) biting me as we rode in the back of the truck in the camper topper (ooh she will be mad that I brought that back up again!), collecting Kachina dolls and seeing real, live Indians – I recall picnics of bologna sandwiches along the side of the road, and feeding the bears grapes (although I think there were signs along the way that said “Do not feed the bears!”)

Again, I thought of my unfinished project, and decided this was the year to complete it!
Sometimes I look down at my hands as I am driving or typing, and I see someone else’s! My mothers, my grandmothers...When I walk in a movie theatre, or in the hospital lobby, and smell popcorn popping…I think of fun times with cousins all flopped out in front of Aunt Claudia’s fireplace! And around the holidays, I think of the table full of candies that Aunt Chris whipped up every year. And, gathering up at Granny and Grandad Foster’s for Christmas always gave good opportunities for Aunt Barbara and Uncle Paul’s yummy treats!

I can’t get through the grocery store without seeing a buttermilk pie – and thinking of how good Granny Moore’s pies were; and how sad that anyone would have to buy one in a grocery store! Driving by Poncho’s restaurants, I think of the special treats of eating out with Granny and Grandad Foster. Do you ever look for Foremost dairy products when you are shopping? I still catch myself looking for the familiar white and orange-red cartons that were always plentiful in Granny’s fridge.

Over the past 10 years, seems like we’ve lost a lot of our family and friends… and with that loss, many of my most fond memories are filled with our gatherings…great fun, visiting, sharing, story-telling, and of course, some yummy food!

Our “cookbook” grows as our families grow – I was thinking about how diversified our foods have become as we have added new people in our lives. Never would I have considered noodles a staple for holiday fare until I met the Tomasek’s, nor would Johnny Gibson think about eating cream of wheat and rice dishes until he got me! Since we have this unique blending of family and friends, I hope you all enjoy the benefits of these tried and true family favorites.

I have asked all of our family, including some friends we cherish as family, to share their “tasty plate full of memories”… and here you have it, a compilation of it all. Keep sharing with me, as you will see that I have designed this project to be expanded for years to come!

Love you all – thanks for the memories!