I promised I'd include recipes in this blog and I never have.

My original thought was that I would add them as I wrote about the people who made those recipes. The people who were and are very special to me. I still like the idea so this will be my first go at it.

I'll start with one about a hero of mine, my mother-in-law, Nan. Oh, I know, most people don't have much nice to say about in-laws but mine were different. Nan was the first women I knew who had had a successful career before settling down and raising a family. She thought everything was possible for a women and that any obstacle could be overcome. Since I first met Nan in 1961, that was some leap of faith.

Working women were not the norm and those women who did work, usually did so because they had to, not because they wanted to.

Nan had worked because she wanted to and she had loved her jobs. She worked on the political campaigns of a variety of people no one would remember now...not presidential stuff...but they were important in their day.

Anyway, she thought I was an artist when no one else did.

One day, when they were visiting us, Nan spotted a watercolor I had done of some milkweed. I had seen the milkweed in a field across from their house and had sketched it and later painted it. She loved the picture and said she wanted to buy it. I was delighted but said if she liked it she could have it as a gift. "No", she said, "I'm going to buy this picture, if you'll sell it to me." I really just wanted her to take the picture but in the end she bought it and had it framed and hung it in her home, in a prominent place, I might add. I was thrilled. If Nan thought I was an artist then I guessed I was.

She might be a bit disappointed that I didn't work harder to make my living as an artist, or perhaps she'd be pleased that I went ahead and had a successful career in another field and now have time to paint again.

What I do know is that in addition to giving me the confidence to paint and sell my work, she also inspired me to finish college...I married at 20 and dropped out to work as a secretary so my husband could finish school. Nan felt I needed that degree and many times said I must finish school.

I did eventually do just that and went on to get a Masters in Information Technology and another in Public Administration.

Nan was an extraordinary cook and I learned volumes from her. Until she and I began to spend time together our weekly menus included about three entrees...tuna casserole or chili or a very Americanized version of lasagna.

Nan taught me to make a lot of main dishes and this fabulous dessert. Make it when the strawberries are in season and ripe.

Nan's Strawberry Pie

1 quart strawberries
3 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
pinch of salt
2/3 cups sugar (or 1/2 cup, if you prefer)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 baked 9" pie shell

Whipping cream

Cover the baked pie shell with some whole berries or same that have been cut in half. (Use the prettiest berries for this part.)

Crush the remaining berries. Add the sugar, corn starch, salt, and cinnamon and cook over low heat until the mixture is thick and somewhat clear. Remove from the heat, cool for five minutes then add the lemon, the butter and the vanilla. Stir in well, pour into the pie shell and refrigerate until serving time.

Top with sweetened whipped cream.


Nan's mother is reputed to have purchased this recipe from the chef at the Cow Palace in San Francisco many, many years ago. I was given the recipe if I promised not to share it. I figure so much time has gone by and similar recipes have surfaced that it is fair to share it. Enjoy!


Nan, in the center, and John and Genny on either side. This was probably taken around 1963 at their home outside of Harrisburg, PA.