I grew up in the country also. Family raised everything and slaughtered everything and milked cows. My mother and I would go to the chicken pen, pick out 5 big, fat hens, kill them, clean and dress them and the cook them "Southern Fried" for dinner. She cooked all fresh veggies that we picked from Daddy's garden, made her own bread (mostly biscuits and corn bread/pones). Mother made cakes, and pies from scratch. She and I usually picked the berries (black berries, strawberries, blueberries, etc). We also make jams and jellies from them and grape jelly from the grape arbor. Mother's kitchen was always open it seemed. She made the best fresh vegetable soup you could ever want! She was the best cook ever. I try hard to come close to her cooking. All my husband's family want to come to my house for my cooking or when I go to their house, they want me to cook. The only things I can think of that I didn't like was cooked turnips and rutabegas. And I agree, being part of the process made a difference and appreciating the hard work that went into cooking over 60 years ago. No microwave, no MacDonalds, no supermarkets everywhere, do electric dishwasher. You ate what you were blessed to have. With cast iron skillets, enamel, and aluminum pots, guess who the dishwasher was!!
Originally Posted by BellaBoo
I never had to eat anything I didn't like. Only one vegetable I don't like and that's beets. I detested cheese and mayo. I grew up eating garden fresh foods, fresh eggs, fresh whole milk, and slaughtered beef and pork. My grandmother and grandfather had a rural farm and I lived with them. My grandmother baked all our cakes and pies. Not many stores to buy anything but the basics so having a soda or candy bar was a real treat, not an everyday thing. I know I owe my great health all these years to my childhood diet.