Well Traveled

About open-minded women who loved to cook. Personal reflections on International Women’s Day.

I have been working with a special cookbook these days. It belonged to my grandaunt Becka, who, about a hundred years ago, did what she loved most: traveling the world and cooking.

Along with the personal handwritten record of her favorite recipes, she left me a set of kitchen tools. They came in handy when I went off to college. Everyone else had to buy their first kitchen set. I already had mine, and it was pretty good. My aunt always bought quality equipment because she took cooking and baking very seriously, even when she was not so young. I know this from personal experience because she used to cook for me when I visited her as a child and stayed with her during school vacations. Of the cooking and baking utensils she left me a long time ago, I still have a large aluminum pot marked 8 QTS on the side, as well as a set of standard teaspoon measures.

Aunt Becka traveled and worked as a cook all over the place. Some of her travels must have been by sea, others by air. At least that is the story her two suitcases tell. They have also traveled a lot, even through the generations. The smaller one may have been her carry-on, with her initials on the top. The other is a very large aluminum suitcase that my grandfather – my grandmother’s little brother by a few years – had added some wheels and a handle on the side to make it mobile when I started traveling across the countries.

Interestingly enough, some of my grandaunt’s paths were crossed by another outgoing, amazing lady who I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to on several occasions. She also loved to cook and bake: my friend Dawn’s grandmother Hazel. Both ladies lived in Chicago and San Diego for a while. Before my first trip to San Diego, my aunt gave me her map of the city – just a few decades out of date. But at least I had a map of that beautiful city on the California bay when I first traveled there. Besides, I love old maps and collect them.

Mag: Dawn, do you remember the huge aluminum suitcase I brought with me when I first came to the States?

Dawn: Yes, I think I do. But only vaguely. I think you stuffed it under your bed, right?

Mag: That’s the one. My grandfather had lovingly refurbished it before my trip. I later discovered that he had even added a fresh coat of silver paint to the corners, noses, and latch of the case. That’s how they were brought up: honor what you have. My grandaunt was also very modest and liked to keep things simple. I found a recipe in her cookbook that is actually quite modern. I think you’ll like it. It’s just short of vegan standards by a single added egg. I will be posting it this summer – in a slightly modified version. It is one of 70 recipes in her book – including a simplified form of marzipan and a no-bake cake. Your grandmother had some great baking recipes up her sleeve too, Dawn. I have yet to find a replacement for her banana bread. Do you have any of her recipes?

Dawn: Yes, I have her cookie recipes. I even veganized some of them. Like I told you in our conversation around Christmas time last year (see [‘Christmas All Around’]). My mom has some other recipes too. But I don’t know if the banana bread recipe is in there. Because you see, Grandma Hazel knew how to bake. Her generation did not need a recipe for everything. Like how to make bread. She just knew.

Mag: I know what you mean. When I read my grandaunt’s book, there are a lot of people named next to the recipes. Some of them I can relate to because I either heard about them in my family or even met them in person when I was a kid (like my grandaunt’s sister, a neighbor, or my grandmother – her sister-in-law). It’s like reading a delicious history book. I imagine my grandaunt and your grandmother would have had a lot of fun talking if they had met, don’t you think? They both had a great sense of humor.

Dawn: Yeah, definitely. My grandmother was always a very cheerful person. She enjoyed meeting people. She also loved to cook and learn new recipes, so she probably would have been interested in what your grandaunt liked to cook. And, as you know, Grandma Hazel was open-minded and interested in learning about things, so she probably would have asked about your grandaunt’s travels.

Mag: Yes, she would have wanted to know, I am sure. Your grandmother also asked me about my travels. And she would give me good advice. Always patient, attentive and with a smile. She was also a great woman. I am glad I got to know her

I found a recipe in her cookbook that is actually quite modern. It’s just short of vegan standards by a single added egg.

Side Notes:

• This year’s International Women’s Day is dedicated to inclusion. You can read about it on the International Women’s Day website. Which also happens to have some biographical notes on the CEO of the FoodCycle project, Sophie Tebbetts, who you read about in February (look for FoodCycle on the page [‘InfoByteSized’] under ‘T’ for Table Talk). What an inspiring path to follow.
• You can find out more about Dawn on the author’s page of this blog