VIRTUAL TEST KITCHEN - UPDATE #3

April 7, 2020

Because I’ve asked you to join me in my Virtual Test Kitchen, I thought I would give you a little background on why I have written my last four books. Also, why these particular recipes for the upcoming book, are important and need to be correct. These are the recipes of which I was carefully entrusted—batter splattered, grease spotted recipe cards—which needed translation and transcription from metric into our standard of measurements—but, beloved all the same.

What are your family’s favorite recipes? What holidays and traditions do you enjoy celebrating together? What brings your family to the table? These are some of the interview questions I asked while traveling through both France and Italy. I was searching for the ‘recipe’ to understanding family connectedness. As a retired family therapist, I knew that family was important to European families, but I didn’t know how or why it was different from what I’ve known in the States. What I learned was that, within many European cultures, family is central; they are most important; they are the glue to their society. But, the reason for this is not apparent. It is, I discovered, because of generations past having suffered terrible losses during, not one, but two world wars on their own doorsteps. Yes, its been seventy-five years since the end of World War II, but time collapses when the elders speak. And the message they handed down was that too many losses within families were suffered and too much tragedy was experienced not to appreciate the importance and celebration of family. Today, and every day.

So, in this time of COVID-19, as we sit with our families around the table tonight—or call them, or FaceTime with them from afar—we, too, recognize the importance of family. As our own holidays arise, we honor them with our own family recipes. We remember times of holidays past and recognize the importance of those moments—as we set about recreating those precious moments when we can all be together again.

Celebrate with the family you have with you—celebrate in the way that you can—go to the kitchen and whip up one of your own family favorites and rejoice!

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We are now in Week Four of the virtual testing process, and I am happy to share with you some of the photos I’ve recently received. But, first, I want to thank each of you for the time and thoughtful effort you gave to the recipes you took on. And, thank you for your great notes and photos. This has been an immense and collaborative effort!