Family History Part 7

The BBC recently ran a radio series with the help of the British Museum on 100 objects that shaped or contributed to the history of the world. These ranged from statues to coins and from toys to modern technology. I have tried to achieve the same sense of significance but in relation to our family for a few objects lying around the house currently or remembered from growing up.

Part 7- The Thomson Family Cook Book

This is a much loved gift presented to us parents at Christmas 2010 by our three offspring.

It is a light brown, loosely bound scrap-book in recycled card lovingly crafted by creative minds and borne out of an idea discussed in a cafe out of a challenge to make a truly unique seasonal gift and lasting record of the food and drink that typifies our family.

Some 5 weeks in its planning the final touches were not put into the grainy pages until well into the night before Christmas.

The document lists 21 entries but remains a fluid thing with space in the latter empty pages to add further culinary creations.

The menu ranges from "tea for mum, coffee for dad", through to store cupboard favourites of popcorn, pancakes and chicken pesto and of course the treat of a "picky-dish" where just about anything edible can go on the plate but equally balanced with some fruit,or veg such as a chopped apple or sliver of celery.

Each dish has a special significance in the life of our family and an association with a specific meal, a particular day in the week or season in the year or just as comfort food when moods, crises and other factors intervene to disrupt the smooth and efficient running of the family unit.

Take sardines on toast for example. A most welcome offering after a busy working day or saturday shop and especially if eaten in front of the television with an old black and white movie showing.

A leisurely sunday start is the cue for a family fry-up with fried egg, fried bread, bacon rashers, mushrooms, tomatoes and sausages just brought back from the Farmer's Market with a still-warm wholemeal or olive bread loaf. Optional extras included hash browns, black and white pudding (the latter requested from any friends travelling back from north of the border), baked beans, pancakes and every conceivable variation of egg.

The cook book has a highlighted entry for Mum's Special of asparagus on poached eggs on hot buttered toast with a good dusting of freshly ground black pepper. Everyone in the family records their own favourites as well with Alice's Chicken and rice, Hannah's spag bol, William's burger and chips and my steak and ale pie.

If too lazy to cook then it is necessary to make a quick dash down to the Chinese Takeaway  with a regular order placed for beef and black bean sauce, spicy Singapore Chow Mein, quarter duck with pancakes, lemon chicken and of course curry and chips in together.

Healthy eating also has its place in the pages with aubergine and tofu satay, an avocado, chilli and ginger smoothie, salads and fresh fruit. The pages, written in felt tip, highlighter pen and marker are interspersed with great little drawings and sketches of method and ingredients giving an intensely personal touch to the work.

The meals do form an enduring legacy of our family and we often find ourselves returning to the mainstays even though we all have developed our own extensive repertoire and skills in the kitchen giving perhaps many more volumes to follow the unique and original first edition when we can find the time to do it, what with all that washing up to do.........