My mom was an only child who was never allowed in the kitchen while growing up, so she was totally self taught! Undaunted, she made all the bread and rolls for our family (four children, my dad, and her mother-in-law). Come Easter, she made the the hot cross buns - dozens and dozens - to be eaten at church after sunrise service. At Christmastime, the speciality was suet pudding that was given out to friends and neighbors, even the postman!!! Not for the calorie conscious, but absolutely delicious when eaten warm with hard sauce!!! Her best gift was allowing us children to help her in the kitchen, a pleasure she had been denied as a child. Even the neighbor children were allowed in on the fun! She also was a great cook and, in addition, made jams, jellies, preserves - even mincemeat! - as well as canning the produce from our backyard veggie garden. My love of cooking was begun at home and honed in the cooking portion of 7th grade Home Ec. My daughters all love to cook; the oldest even has her own home bakery business. The grandchildren are also being taught the love of cooking. And that suet pudding? I still have the recipe in my mom's own handwriting!! She's been gone for 30 years, but her legacy lives on.

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