It’s been a minute since I posted on the blog. Forgive my absence, but I promise this is a good one.
Today is Mother’s Day, and I’m reminded of all those who came before me — and the ones who brought me here.
Why is it that we always crave Grandma’s cooking? Why do we always say we miss it? Is it the memory of Grandma herself, or is it the time she took to pour everything she had into a meal?
Over the years, I’ve searched for quick meals, just like we all have. Trying to make sure my kids ate homemade food while also making sure I had time to relax and spend with them after work.
You see, today most women work two jobs — their 9-to-5 and being a mom. We don’t have the same amount of time to stand over a meal on the stove or in the oven for hours.
But lately, I’ve been trying to bring back some of my grandma’s old recipes — recipes that require time.
This morning, I made grits. Not the instant kind. And homemade biscuits.
But here’s the thing: the biscuits didn’t start today. They started months ago when I fed my sourdough starter for the first time. They continued every single day that starter was cared for and fed until this morning, when it was carefully mixed, rolled out, and layered into biscuits that came hot and perfect out of the oven.
And then there were the grits. Well, those had to be started first — because good grits take time.
I think that’s what we really miss about our elders’ cooking. The time they put into meals. The love they poured into them. The definite sweat — because the kitchen is hot, y’all. They cooked for hours, not just 20-minute meals.
And yeah, they had quick meals too. We all need a break sometimes. But at the end of the day, it’s the time and love that people remember.
I know my family notices it when a meal takes longer. And man, are their reactions worth it? One hundred percent.
And you know what? Cooking things that take time, bringing back old-school recipes — recipes my grandma made — that’s worth it to me. It makes me feel closer to the people who came before me.
Because that’s the thing: it all took time. It took care. It took intention.
And today, it paid off with a delicious Mother’s Day breakfast.
Of course, the meal was finished off with bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns my husband cooked on the new Blackstone — our newest toy. And boy, is it a timesaver for a big family