My mother was an artist whose creativity did not extend to the kitchen. She only made 3 dishes that were exceptionally good -- meat loaf, cole slaw, and a cake dessert she called cottage pudding -- but she taught me those and encouraged my incomprehensible (to her) interest in baking & cooking, signing me up for a 4-H club as soon as I was old enough, eating my leaden cakes and leathery pie crusts until they actually became praise-worthy, and finally bragging about my talents and county fair ribbons with wonder and a little envy. Obviously, you don't have to be a good cook to be a great mother.

• Reply