Once again I come to you with a post inspired by Mama Kat’s Writer’s Worksop. This week, the prompt that struck me was number 5: “Describe a home cooked meal that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.” I like to cook and even more than cooking, I love to eat. Home cooked meals are definitely the best and I have to say, I don’t eat enough of them. It would be much better for me in terms of my health and my wallet if I ate more home cooked meals. I think that I really need to figure out how to make my schedule next year such that I can!
I come from a family that sat down every night to a family dinner all through my high school career, yet when I read this prompt, my mind immediately went to my grandmother’s house. She is always ready with a meal no matter when you come over, planned or unannounced. I suppose it is kinda the “Jewish Grandmother” thing to do, but it certainly was great. I was lucky enough to grow up only minutes away from all of my grandparents, so we spent a lot of time with them and celebrated many holidays with them.
This post pertains to my maternal grandmother. I have posted before on the subject of corned beef, mostly just giving my grandmother’s recipe and talking about making it. This dish though, is one of my all time favorite. I don’t remember what holiday I really associate corned beef with, I think it is Hanukkah. In any event, it used to be an annual treat to head over to Nana’s house and know that we were going to be having corned beef for dinner. usually served with mashed potatoes or Latkes. Can’t go wrong when it is with latkes!
This home made corned beef is unlike any that you get at the deli counter in the supermarket. I think it has a lot to do with the glaze that we make for it. Ham glaze, mustard, brown sugar… It makes such a sweet glaze. I think there is probably something also in the cooking the meat in ginger ale as well, but I am not a food scientist (might be a fun job). All I know is that, when made right, this corned beef is so sweet and tender that it might even convert some vegetarians. (Well, that may be a little extreme)
I can’t think of any other food that really makes me feel as warm and fuzzy as my Nana’s home made corned beef. It reminds me of my family and being together and it is quite yummy-in-the-tummy. It isn’t terribly hard to make and it is lots of fun to eat!
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