We have many memories of family food, whether it was great feasts at family get togethers, the meals we had in our homes, potlucks at family reunions, prize winning entries at local fairs, watching someone bake/cook or someone teaching us how to bake/cook.
So often it is our female ancestors that we have difficulty finding out about their lives. Sharing recipes they and family members made is a wonderful way to honour them, whether in a family cookbook or one by one.
Recipes are made even more meaningful when you add a story of what you remember about it, when/why the recipe was served and a picture of the ancestor! Here is an example.
Corn and Salmon Loaf
This recipe was my Great Aunt Nora’s recipe. She was born in 1904 in Morris Township, Huron County. Aunt Nora was a dear, kind soul. She lived in Belgrave with her mother and cared for her for years and later her brother. She was full of life, loved Diefenbaker (this family were Conservatives), and watching wrestling and the Toronto Maple Leafs!! We would visit on a weekend usually and she would often serve this for lunch or supper. My Mom made it for us often – it is good hot or cold.
1 can corn niblets (I use frozen)
1 can salmon (see notes)
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup milk
½ tsp salt
2 eggs
7 soda biscuits
Crush salmon and mix with corn, crushed crackers, salt
Beat eggs and milk and mix with salmon mixture.
Pour into buttered baking dish.
Dot top with butter
Bake in oven till golden brown on edges.
Notes: This recipe was from the days you could buy a big tin of pink salmon. I now use about 3 cans of sockeye salmon instead. I also use more soda biscuits – your call.